Thankful for Sources of Power, 2 of 5

Let’s continue to explore the five sources of power by Joann M. Eisenhart, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Human resources, Facilities and Philanthropy at Northwestern Mutual, who studied the topic in her doctoral dissertation, The Meaning and Use of Power among Female Corporate Leaders.

Power Source No. 2: Expertise and Credibility
Key to Success: Knowing your stuff is one thing; demonstrating it builds credibility.

This source of power can be derived from having expertise in a given field or by demonstrating a track record of delivery through which the individual has gained trust and credibility in an organization.

In Eisenhart’s study, approximately three quarters of the women interviewed suggested that their ability to influence a situation comes at least partly from their expertise and credibility.

Similarly, Eisenhart said expertise and credibility are central to her use of power. “I need to know my craft, my industry and I expect that of everyone on my team,” she said. “When I joined Northwestern Mutual, I rested on the confidence that I know how human resources can help deliver business results.”

She cautions; however, that having expertise does not necessarily translate into having credibility in the workplace. Knowledge is critical, of course. But it’s also expected; most people are hired for their expertise. From her perspective, the key to credibility is being able to use that knowledge and expertise to solve problems. “We all know people who got straight A’s in college but have trouble translating their skills in a real-world setting,” she said. “Unless they’re able to share their expertise with others in a way that’s clear and meaningful – and apply their knowledge in a way that’s valuable – they may not be viewed as credible.”

Building Credibility

Seek out ways to demonstrate your value. Be honest about what you’re good at, and then find ways to leverage your strengths in the workplace. Ask for assignments that will allow you to take advantage of those skills. Try to get on projects where you can shine. Your expertise is only as good as the ways in which you can demonstrate that it’s valuable – to your team and to your company.

Learn how to build expertise quickly. In today’s fast-paced business environment, the more easily you can learn and adapt, the better. You may be the most experienced person in your position today, but who knows what your job will look like five years from now? To remain relevant you’ll need to be a flexible, quick study. And this is particularly true if your goal is to rise through ranks of management. Successful C-suite leaders have mastered the art of learning and know how to build a necessary level of expertise quickly.

Power Source No. 3 – 5 to be continued…

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