Why Status Is More Important Than Power—And How to Improve It
Dec 3, 2024
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Alison Fragale, an organizational psychologist and author of 'Likable Badass,' dives into the critical distinction between status and power in the workplace. She reveals how status, rather than power, drives long-term success and influence. Listeners learn practical strategies to enhance their status, particularly for women navigating professional dynamics. Fragale discusses the interplay of warmth and capability, emphasizing the impact of meaningful connections and personal authenticity in building valuable relationships.
Status is more crucial than power for long-term success, emphasizing respect and influence within professional environments.
Enhancing status involves demonstrating warmth and competence, which can improve professional relationships and mitigate biases faced by women.
Deep dives
The Importance of Status Over Power
Status is deemed a more sustainable path to success than power, as it involves being respected and valued by others. Building status enhances one's ability to negotiate and influence within a workplace context. This respect is essential because it shapes how receptive an audience will be to one's requests or ideas; when individuals feel valued, they are more likely to engage positively. Focusing solely on power can often leave individuals disappointed if they lack the underlying foundation of respect that status provides.
Defining Power and Status
Power is characterized by control over valuable resources, such as money or decision-making authority, while status hinges on how others perceive and respect an individual. The two concepts can coexist but do not always parallel each other; one can hold power without having status or vice versa. A respected individual without formal authority often wields significant influence, highlighting the fundamental differences between these two attributes. This distinction is crucial for understanding how individuals can navigate their professional environments effectively.
Strategies for Enhancing Status
To improve status, it's essential to show both warmth and competence, as these dimensions are critical in how others assess an individual. Simple actions like making valuable introductions or helping colleagues demonstrate genuine intentions toward others while showcasing one's skills can yield positive results. Moreover, amplifying the achievements of others in professional spaces, such as group discussions or social media, can create a reciprocal dynamic that enhances one's own status. By focusing on how to provide value and be seen as helpful, individuals can significantly improve their professional standing.
Navigating Bias and Building Authenticity
Women often face additional challenges in navigating status due to biases that affect how they are perceived in professional environments. Acknowledging that social biases can create an uneven playing field, it's vital for individuals to control how they present themselves and to understand how their actions can influence perceptions. Emphasizing authenticity while also striving to display warmth and competence allows individuals to overcome these biases effectively. Even in biased settings, one's behavior and actions can alter perceptions and enhance status, turning challenges into opportunities for growth.
Many people think that success comes from gaining power, but it's actually status that leads to long-term achievement and influence. Discover how to enhance your status from organizational psychologist and author of 'Likable Badass', Alison Fragale.
The science behind status and why it’s more important than power
Strategies for gaining and maintaining status at work
How to use your status to build valuable relationships.