Mgs 4420 - Concrete Experience

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Abstract Conceptualization

Relate concepts or theories from the assigned readings or the lecture to the experience. Use the appropriate terms and explain how they apply to your experience.

There are two main sources of power and seven types of power listed in Leadership: Theory Application and Skill Development and coercive power is listed as a type of power. Coercive power involves punishment and withholding of rewards to influence compliance which is exactly what took place in my situation. I was threatened to be withheld of my salary which is what lead me to comply by my manager’s rules, regardless if I liked it or not. My manager increased her coercive power by gaining her authority and issuing the punishment. She wanted to maintain discipline in the workplace with the rules she enforced. Although coercive power was the main type of power being used in the situation, it was not the only one applied. The other type of power that was used was reward power. Reward power is based on the user’s ability to influence others with something of value to them. The manager knew that our salary was valued by us which is why she chose to use that as bait to get her objectives achieved. She also had a say in who gets raises, promotions, and other rewards. By using the threat of sending me and other employees home, she reminded us that controlled the rewards which increased her reward power.

Active Experimentation

What did you learn from this experience? What action steps will you take to be more effective in the future?

This situation allowed me to learn quite a few things from not only my manager’s mistakes, but also mine. My manager made a mistake of abusing the power she had. She used her power to manipulate her employees into doing something we all knew was wrong. I’ve learned that way of using power maybe effective in the short-term for compliance, but it would not be effective in the long-haul because it can cause dysfunctional behavior on both the manager’s and employee’s side which can create conflict. Another lesson I learned is to not comply with unethical behavior. Although the steak was not served, while preparing it, I did not feel good about myself nor about what I was doing. For future references, I now base my decisions and how I would feel if I were in the other person’s shoe. If I wouldn’t be satisfied with the outcome, then I don’t do it. Even though at the time I didn’t like the situation, I’m glad it happened because it taught me valuable lessons with everyone’s safety still secured.