What is the Difference Between Positional Power and Personal Power?

The main difference between positional power and personal power lies in the source of their authority and influence.

Positional Power:

• Derived from one's position in an organization's structure and hierarchy.
• Associated with formal authority and legitimate power.
• Granted by the position rather than the individual's attributes.
• Typically linked to traditional forms of leadership.
• Applies only in a specific framework, such as within an institution, a nation, or a corporate.
• Ensures that a group of people conform and work together towards a common goal.

Personal Power:

• Inherent to an individual and comes from their personal qualities, such as charisma, expertise, or likability.
• Also known as referent power.
• Associated with informal influence.
• Can build relationships, trust, and influence others.
• Has a higher degree of emotional intelligence and can understand and manage their emotions.
• Aimed at self-mastery, competence, vision, positive personal qualities, and service.

In summary, positional power is the authority one wields due to their position in an organization, while personal power is the ability to influence people and events with or without formal authority. Personal power is more about an individual's attitude or state of mind, focusing on inspiring and motivating others, whereas positional power is focused on ensuring conformity and achieving common goals within a specific framework.

Comparative Table: Positional Power vs Personal Power

Here is a table comparing the differences between positional power and personal power:

Positional power is the authority one wields by virtue of their position in an organization's structure and hierarchy. It is a formal form of power that comes with a specific rank or title and is used to ensure that a group of people conform and work together towards achieving organizational goals. On the other hand, personal power is an individual's skill and ability to influence people and events, regardless of their formal position. It is more of a person's attitude or state of mind rather than an attempt to maneuver or control others. Both positional and personal power can allow you to exert influence and impact other people's behaviors, but they differ in their sources, aims, and applications.