From the course: Having Difficult Conversations
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Identify the power structure and patterns
From the course: Having Difficult Conversations
Identify the power structure and patterns
- I used to work with a bully boss. He was unapproachable and had a short fuse. He'd yell and scream at his employees, and this created a power structure where the one with the most power used intimidation and the one with the least power avoided. If I had a complaint, I kept it to myself and I avoided him, even when I had information that would help the organization. Let's explore how the power structures and patterns influence our ability to successfully initiate difficult conversations. When it comes to power structure there's three levels. Less power, equal power, and more power. Obviously your boss has more power, your peers have equal power, and your employees or your direct reports have less power. No matter what category you're in, power structures influence conversation. Our brains are wired to avoid threats and to approach rewards. And when we communicate with someone with higher status, it naturally puts our brain in protective mode. With my boss, I was intimidated because…
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