20+ Difference Between Power And Influence (Explained)

Growing a company and managing its affairs is a task that requires big professional and managerial aptitude. Similarly, managing the affairs of a team- small or big requires plenty of patience and managerial skills.

In the same context, ensuring that the operations are being carried out smoothly and efficiently is extremely important for the company’s growth in today’s dynamic sphere of commercial wizardry.

Exerting power through an autocratic and authoritative sense of leadership is not always appreciated but is often necessary. But the magic that the inclusive and democratic style of leadership that the idea of exercising the power of influence brings along with it is something else.

In this article, we will attempt to discern the meaning and the difference between the two to devise further the recommended method of managing a team- whether small or big.

Comparison Between Power And Influence

Particulars	Power	Influence
Ethos	Ethos, when it comes to the idea of exercising power, is about imposing authority and dominance by a person of a superior rank on a person of a subordinate rank.	The ethos regarding the idea of influence is about encouraging an individual’s ability to work by motivating them and influencing their decision-making process.
Force	When it comes to the idea of exercising power, it is quite apparent that a person of a superior rank forcibly makes a person of a subordinate rank perform a particular task.	When it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence, it is quite apparent that an individual is inspired and motivated to work in an influencer’s way of working, wherein there is no actual force involved.
Respect	When it comes to exercising power, it is quite apparent that a person of a superior rank does not respect the choices of a subordinate rank and wants a particular task to be performed according to his/her own liking.	When it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence, it is quite apparent that since art allows an individual to make his/her own choices in conducting his/her work, the idea of influencing others in a similar fashion allows the idea of respect to flow through its veins.
Decision Making	When it comes to the idea of exercising power, it is quite apparent that due to the person of a superior rank exerting his/her dominance over the person of a subordinate rank, there is quite a little space for making one’s own decisions.	When it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence, it is quite apparent that due to the influencer’s soft approach to inspiring and motivating one’s style of working, it leaves one with quite a lot of space for making one’s own decisions.
Employee Retention	When it comes to the idea of exercising power, it is a bitter truth that even if the quality of the work persists due to strict monitoring and exertion of power, employee retention cannot be promised.	When it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence, it is quite apparent that due to the influencer’s soft approach to inspiring and motivating one’s style of working, there is also room for one’s growth, thus promising employee retention.
Conversation Pathway	When it comes to exercising power, the communication pathway is considered a one-way path only, unlike the idea of exercising the power of influence. This means that the idea of exercising power is only accessible through a person of a superior rank, inducing a person of a subordinate rank to perform tasks in a particular manner.	When it comes to exercising the power of influence, the communication pathway is considered a two-way path, unlike the idea of exercising and exerting power. This means that the idea of exercising the power of influence allows both the persons of a superior rank and a subordinate rank to communicate with each other on the same level.
Approach	When it comes to the idea of exercising power, it is a bitter truth that even if the quality of the work persists due to strict monitoring and exertion of power, the employees in that particular company under this particular authority may find such growth stifling and suffocating. This is because the approach involved in the idea of exercising power is forceful, unlike the idea of exercising the power of influence.	When it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence, it is quite apparent that due to the influencer’s soft approach to inspiring and motivating one’s style of working, an individual is blessed with the option of making his/her own decisions. This is because the approach involved in the idea of exercising the power of influence is voluntary, unlike the idea of exercising power.
Leadership	When it comes to the idea of exercising power, the style of leadership that leaders follow in this approach is considered to be autocratic and authoritative rather than democratic.	When it comes to exercising the power of influence, the leadership style followed by leaders or influencers in this approach is considered inclusive and democratic rather than authoritative and autocratic.
Teamwork	When it comes to the idea of exercising power, it is quite apparent that due to the autocratic leadership style of the people holding a superior rank, less transparency is ensured, while the greater team is excluded from the major decision-making processes.	When it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence, it is quite apparent that due to the democratic and inclusive leadership style of the influencers, greater transparency is ensured, wherein an interdependent approach to teamwork is maintained for smoother operations amongst the team members.
Quality of Work	When it comes to the idea of exercising power, it is quite apparent that due to the autocratic leadership style of the people holding a superior rank, the employees may lose the will the keep the quality of the work up to the mark and may not even continue the work in the absence of that authoritative figure due to less motivation and guidance.	When it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence, it is quite apparent due to the democratic and inclusive leadership style of the influencers, the subjects being influenced are motivated to keep working even in the absence of that particular influential figure.
Rank	When it comes to the idea of exercising power, it is quite apparent that such authority comes to an individual through a particularly positional rank system that allows an individual to demand a person of a subordinate rank perform in a particular manner, as prescribed.	When it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence, it is quite apparent that such authority can encourage and motivate an individual through a personal rank in that individual’s preferences in choosing to follow the particular influencer’s way of working.

Contrast Between Power And Influence

What exactly is power?

The idea in relation to exercising power has been coined from the autocratic style of leadership, wherein a manager belonging to a superior rank uses his authority and power over a person belonging to a subordinate rank to make him/her perform tasks in a particular manner.

Power:

• Exercising power is about imposing authority and dominance by a person of a superior rank on a person of a subordinate rank.

• A person of a superior rank forcibly makes a person of a subordinate rank perform a particular task through the grant of power.

• Due to the person of a superior rank exerting his/her dominance over the person of a subordinate rank, there is quite little space for making one’s own decisions.

• When it comes to the idea of exercising power, the communication pathway is considered to be a one-way path only.

• When it comes to the idea of exercising power, even if the quality of the work persists due to strict monitoring and exertion of power, employee retention cannot be promised.

• The approach involved in the idea of exercising power is considered to be rather forceful.

• The leadership style involved in the idea of exercising power is considered to be rather authoritative and autocratic.

• The greater team is generally excluded from the major decision-making processes when it comes to the idea of exercising power.

What exactly is influencing?

The idea in relation to exercising the power of influence has been coined from the democratic and inclusive style of leadership,

wherein an influencer encourages, motivates, and inspires an individual to work in such a manner, that his/her whole approach to working is affected in a good manner, such that the ultimate output is efficient and effective.

Influence:

• Exercising the power of influence is about encouraging an individual’s ability to work by motivating them and influencing their decision-making processes.

• An individual is inspired and motivated to work in an influencer’s way of working, where no actual force is involved.

• Due to the influencer’s soft approach to inspiring and motivating one’s style of working, it leaves one with quite a lot of space for making one’s own decisions.

• When it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence, the communication pathway is considered to be a two-way path.

• Employee retention is almost always promised when it comes to exercising the power of influence.

• The approach involved in exercising the power of influence is not considered forceful but rather encouraging and inspiring.

• The leadership style involved in the idea of exercising the power of influence s considered to be rather democratic and inclusive.

• An interdependent approach to teamwork is maintained for smoother operations amongst the team members when it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence.

Major Differences Between Power And Influence

Ethos:

• Power: The spirit of power is in particular regard to being able to impose authority and dominance that comes from a person belonging to a superior rank on a person belonging to a subordinate rank.
  
  By imposing such power, the person of a superior rank expects the person of a subordinate rank to work strictly in the manner prescribed by him/her.

• Influence: The spirit of influence is in particular regard to an influencer’s ability to be able to inspire an individual’s decision-making processes, which further drives that individual firmly towards their own belief system of working.
  
  By influencing such chemistry, an influencer expects that individual to apply this style of working evenly in all applicable spheres of life.

Force:

• Power: When it comes to the idea of exercising one’s superior power over a person belonging to a subordinate rank, it is quite apparent that the person who is particularly belonging to a superior rank forcibly makes the person belonging to a subordinate rank perform a particular task, i.e., by his/her prescribed methods.
  
  Thus, it is quite apparent that when it comes to the idea of exercising power, the use of force is always assumed.

• Influence: When it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence by a person of great intellect and respected qualities, it is quite apparent that an individual is often inspired and motivated to work in that particular influencer’s way of working, wherein there is no actual force involved.
  
  Thus, it is quite apparent that when it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence, the use of force cannot always be assumed.

Respect:

• Power: When it comes to exercising power, it is quite apparent that a person belonging to a superior rank does not respect the choices of a subordinate rank and wants a particular task to be performed according to his/her own liking.
  
  This is because of the fact that the use of force is almost always assumed when it comes to the idea of exercising power. 

• Influence: When it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence, it is quite apparent that since art allows an individual to make his/her own choices in conducting his/her work, the idea of influencing others in a similar fashion allows the idea of respect to flow through its veins.
  
  This is because of the fact that the use of force is never assumed when it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence.

Decision Making:

• Power: When it comes to exercising power, it is quite apparent that due to the person of a superior rank exerting his/her dominance on the person of a subordinate rank, there is quite a little space for making one’s own decisions.
  
  This is because of the bitter truth that the use of force is almost always assumed when it comes to the idea of exercising power. 

• Influence: When it comes to exercising the power of influence, it is quite apparent that the influencer’s soft approach to inspiring and motivating one’s working style leaves one with quite a lot of space for making one’s own decisions.
  
  This is because of the comforting fact that the use of force is never assumed when it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence.

Employee Retention:

• Power: When it comes to exercising power, it is considered quite a bitter truth that even if the quality of the work persists due to strict monitoring and exertion of power, employee retention cannot be guaranteed.
  
  This is because of the fact that dominance and exerting one’s superior authority over an individual holding a subordinate rank almost always subsume one’s decision-making skills and lead one towards suffocated growth in a particular company.

• Influence: When it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence, it is quite apparent that due to the influencer’s soft approach to inspiring and motivating one’s style of working, there is also room for one’s growth, thus promising employee retention.
  
  This is because of the comforting fact that the idea of exercising the power of influence allows an individual with enough room to make his/her own decisions, rather than stifling him/her with authoritative demands leading to suffocated growth in a particular company.

Conversation Pathway:

• Power: When it comes to exercising power, the communication pathway is considered a one-way path only, unlike the idea of exercising the power of influence.
  
  This means that exercising power in a particular reference is only considered accessible through a person of a superior rank, inducing a person of a subordinate rank to perform tasks in a particular manner.

• Influence: When it comes to exercising the power of influence, the communication pathway is considered a two-way path, unlike the idea of exercising and exerting power.
  
  This means that the idea of exercising the power of influence, in a particular reference, allows both persons belonging to a superior rank and a subordinate rank to communicate with each other on the same level.

Approach:

• Power: When it comes to the idea of exercising power, it is considered to be quite a bitter truth that even if the quality of the work persists due to strict monitoring and exertion of power, the employees in that particular company under this particular authority may find such growth stifling and suffocating, leading to lesser retention of employees.
  
  This is because the approach involved in the idea of exercising power is forceful, unlike the idea of exercising the power of influence.

• Influence: When it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence, it is considered to be quite apparent that due to a particular influencer’s soft approach to inspiring and motivating an individual’s style of working, an individual is considered to be blessed with the option of making his/her own decisions.
  
  This is because the approach involved in exercising the power of influence, in particular, is voluntary, unlike that of exercising power.

Leadership:

• Power: When it comes to the idea of exercising power, the style of leadership that leaders follow in this approach is considered to be of a rather autocratic and authoritative form rather than a democratic form, unlike that of the idea of exercising the power of influence.

• Influence: When it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence, the style of leadership that is followed by leaders or influencers in this approach is considered to be of a rather inclusive and democratic form rather than an authoritative and autocratic form, unlike that of the idea of exercising power.

Teamwork:

• Power: When it comes to the idea of exercising power, it is considered to be quite apparent that due to the autocratic style of leadership of the people belonging to a superior rank over the persons belonging to a subordinate rank, less transparency is ensured, while the greater team is excluded from the major decision-making processes of that particular company.

• Influence: When it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence, it is considered to be quite apparent that due to the democratic and inclusive leadership style of the influencers, greater transparency is ensured, in return, wherein an interdependent approach to teamwork is maintained for a smoother range of operations amongst the team members in that particular company.

Quality of Work:

• Power: When it comes to the idea of exercising power, it is considered quite apparent that due to the autocratic leadership style of the people belonging to a superior rank over the persons belonging to a subordinate rank.
  
  The employees may lose the will to keep the work quality up to the mark and may not even continue the work without that authoritative figure due to less motivation and guidance.

• Influence: When it comes to the idea of exercising the power of influence, it is considered to be quite apparent due to the democratic and inclusive leadership style of the influencers;
  
  The subjects being influenced are largely motivated to keep working even in the absence of that particular influential figure, leading to a change in that individual’s approach to working.

Rank:

• Power: When it comes to exercising power, it is considered quite apparent that such authority comes to an individual through a particularly positional rank system that allows an individual to demand a person of a subordinate rank performs in a particular manner, as prescribed.

• Influence: When it comes to exercising the power of influence, it is considered quite apparent that such authority can encourage and motivate an individual through a personal rank in that individual’s preferences in choosing to follow the particular influencer’s way of working.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

More To Explore:

• Autocratic Leadership Style Guide: Commanding with Authority
• Autocratic Leadership Advantages And Disadvantages: Comprehensive Analysis
• Difference Between Autocratic And Democratic Leadership
• French And Raven’s Five Forms Of Power Explained: Power In Leadership
• What Is Transformational Leadership: Unleashing The Power Of Influence