PROJ6006: Leveraging Influence and Expert Power for Project Growth

This discussion post examines the concepts of influence and manipulation in project management, arguing that influence is a more effective leadership strategy due to its positive impact on staff motivation and creativity. The post emphasizes the importance of a leader's ability to understand and address employees' individual needs, fostering respect and enhancing overall project success. It further discusses the significance of expert power, particularly in the context of EWS's expansion into the Asian Pacific region, highlighting how a leader's expertise can inspire trust, drive motivation, and facilitate the implementation of sustainable and cost-effective solutions. The discussion concludes that expert power, based on knowledge and skills, is crucial for making informed decisions and achieving project goals.

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PROJ6006
Student name
Geography
Lecturer
Institution
15th March, 2019

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Post 1
I agree that as a manager using influence is better because it affects positively staff
motivation and creativity that facilitates project success as compared to using manipulation. A
leader should offer special attention to employees’ individual needs, by involvement in daily
activities, a leader earns respect and becomes of more positive influence over their staff.
Influence in an organization does not require any title, one can influence others in an
organization regardless of the position. A leader can influence other employees and encourage
them in a verge of accomplishing a project and make a difference in an organization. Timely task
completion is an important aspect in an organization therefore, a leader should be able to
motivate workers to complete given tasks within a given period of time (Neil 2017).
A leader in an organization has a responsibility of keeping employees aligned with the
company’s vision and mission, therefore, influence helps to enhance employees see a wider
picture and bring every worker on to the same page. Influential leaders inspire others towards a
goal by conveying enthusiasm, energy and optimism in the work place. Transformational leaders
have a mandate of influencing workers who might be afraid of change (Brock 2012).
Manipulation in the other hand is unreliable in leadership since it backfires sometimes
especially when workers feel like they are being manipulated. Manipulation can even damage
relationships especially when carried out before thinking wisely leading to guilt tripping and
abusive criticism.
Post 2
I agree that for the success of the project in EWS, a leader should possess expert power
and be influential. Expert itself is a perfect influential power. Team members trust and respect a
leader due to his/her technical expertise in handling of issues. Expert power is gained when one
shows a high level of knowledge and skills to be admired by the workers around and come for
advices and leadership.
Expert power equips leaders with robust confidence in managing people whereby team
members believe in one’s guidance efforts and motivation. An expert in environment friendly
waste water management system can easily come up with best ways of waste water management
and lead his colleagues in implementing the processes. Expert power is more of personal than
formal type of power which is based on the knowledge of the expert. This power comes in when

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the subordinates including the boss have a perception that one’s past experience and expertise
guides one to make right decisions in the company (Lunenburg 2012).
The provided processes could be more efficient and economical thus making the
initiative achievable without facing financial constraints and also deliver cost effective and
sustainable solutions. An expert would also figure out convenient and technical ways which are
marketable in the developing western African nation. One should be able to study the prevailing
market demand so as to regulate supply accordingly. Such an expert should evaluate the
activities to facilitate treatment systems which are optimal, enhance utilization of available
resources to design wastewater treatment facilities, introduce management plans which are long-
range and also lead other workers in complying with trending regulations (Angela & Sheri
2016).

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References
Angela, M. & Sheri, L., 2016. The Fragile Balance of Power and Leadership. The Journal of
Values- Based Leadership, 9(2), pp. 6-10.
Brock, H., 2012. yourtango. [Online]
Available at: https://www.yourtango.com/experts/brock-hansen/pros-and-cons-manipulation-
expert
[Accessed 15 03 2019].
Lunenburg, F., 2012. Power and leadership.An Influence Process. International Journal of
Management,Businesds and Administration, 15(1), pp. 2-8.
Neil, K., 2017. bizfluent. [Online]
Available at: https://bizfluent.com/info-12134514-advantages-influence-leadership.html
[Accessed 15 03 2019].