Where Does Power Come From?
- Power derives from energy.
The dictionary defines power as the "ability or capacity to act or perform effectively" (See Reference1). But power can also refer to the authority to exert control, might of a nation, economic control or influence or control over others. We need power to light our homes and make our vehicles run and use it to measure the movement of electrons. Physicists use power as a measure of work being done by a machine, and mathematicians use the word to express exponents. But where does power actually come from and how is it developed? There is actually nothing mystical about power---physical and social scientists have been studying it for centuries. - Powerful people use their resources for a purpose.
Physical power is based on energy and resources. The power that provides electricity and moves the pistons in our cars is energy adapted to a task. Energy comes from the combustion of fossil fuels to turn turbines, from water or wind harnessed to generate electricity, from solar rays used to heat and cool a home, from fracturing atoms and from producing steam. We transform energy into power to do work for us. A human can be physically powerful if he exercises, transforming energy and food to muscle mass. Formal power requires a person to be able to identify purpose and priorities, be present when decisions are made, have access to information and innovate to achieve "positional power." Visibility and the development of contacts---being "in the right place at the right time"---is not just luck. It takes hard work. Given the right resources and contacts, someone in a position of economic or social power can gain political power, too. Although some persons end up in positions of formal power because of influence or money (both are resources), most end up in positions of formal power by having a clear purpose and working to achieve it. - A leader's source of power is those who follow.
There is a more subtle form of power, though---an informal power necessary for the success of communities and institutions in society. For this power to develop, individuals must be able to accumulate the skills, knowledge and experiences to to act competently and with purpose. They must be articulate and socially adept and make commitments based on a shared value system. This power, often referred to as "leadership" or "moral authority" can lead to a position of "informal" power when there are other people (a constituency) willing to follow the person. These people and their constituencies form the basis of power in society, depending on the recognition they receive from institutions like government, religion and the economy. Their informal power can influence those who hold political or other authority. In the end, power is derived from effort, a sense of purpose, shrewd use of resources, the ability to think creatively and finding the right cause to pursue.
