Perceptions of Power in Conflict

The perception of power in a conflict can cause high emotions amongst the members, which in turn causes different communicative moves. Resource control, interpersonal linkages, communication skills, and expertise are all power currencies that can affect how communication is handled in a conflict and the resolution of the conflict. Understanding the role that power plays in relationships, the differences in the definition of power, and how it affects relationships and approaches to balance power will cause more positive communications in conflict.

According to Wilmot (2021, p. 115), power is not owned by any particular person but is a product of the communicative relationship. The people involved in conflict obtain a certain degree of power. A shared sense of power is vital to relationships, fostering more collaborative conflicts by providing an equal dependency. Conversely, an unequal dependency on power can be misconstrued as laziness and powerlessness. Power currencies also have a role in how relational power is viewed. Someone designated to control another's resources has resource control that can impact the perception of power in the relationship. A network of others that an individual obtains through interpersonal linkages also gives a perception of attained power. However, it's the development of relationships through effective communication skills that genuinely empowers individuals, increasing their perception of power. An individual's perceived value is enhanced by the skills and knowledge they acquire, giving them a sense of having more power than others.

Everyone has a different perception of power in their personal and professional lives. A shared power dependency is essential for a wife to show the children as their mother. Collaborating with family members provides more effective conflict resolutions and a more positive outlook on conflict to shape growing minds to have better communicative relationships as they develop into young adults. Also, as a mother, the need to utilize resource control, interpersonal linkages, communication skills, and expertise is required to show young children the consequences of their actions so they can grow into productive members of society by giving an understanding that there is a hierarchy that needs to be adhered to.

Professionally, as a former jailer, the amount of yelling and disrespect by superiors was very concerning, causing high emotions. This led to conflicts never being resolved and the harboring of resentment among floor officers. It became a volatile environment due to the number of unresolved conflicts, with many more destructive conflicts arising every day. Superiors would flaunt their perceived power over others and use it against employees in an indecent manner. They would threaten the resources and interpersonal linkages, causing a lack of communication. In recent endeavors, as a lead qualification specialist, conflicts have been at a minimum, with quick and efficient resolutions. Adhering to a more collaborative conflict style, superiors give the utmost respect to staff when conflict situations arise because they work together as a team, giving everyone a shared sense of power. These situations show that not everyone sees power in the same way. The abuse of power creates toxic situations with strained relationships. Still, the sharing of power brings stronger, more stable relationships, fostering a sense of connection and understanding among all parties involved.

Balancing these power perceptions will give a more positive outlook on power. A high-power person can show restraint and empower a lower-power person, giving them a sense of balance in their relationship, such as a boss retraining an employee who has not grasped the concept of the job that they were hired to do instead of just firing the employee. This would give the employees a sense of shared power and, in return, empower them to learn and do better. Lower-power people can utilize the interdependence of a high-power person. Wilmot (2021, p. 142) states that people are interdependent in getting things done and being acknowledged for their contributions to enhance the relationship. Lower-power people can maintain calm persistence to get to a higher-power level. Remaining engaged and being able to calmly present the values, beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses will connect you emotionally to the relationships that are built, giving a positive outlook on power and the conflicts within them.

By balancing perceived power, we can foster stronger relationships with collaborative conflict resolutions. Understanding the differences in how others define power will assist in the different techniques that can be utilized to ensure the power is balanced and that there is no abuse of power. This balance provides a sense of security and stability, giving a positive perception of power and the conflicts within. This will create better conflict resolutions and more effectively stable relationships, providing a sense of security and stability in our interactions.

Reference

Wilmot, W. W. (2021). Interpersonal Conflict (11th ed.). McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US). https://purdueuniversityglobal.vitalsource.com/books/9781264164264