Managing Without Power: Seven Alternative Ways to Be Influential

Largely inspired by the work of the American social psychologist Dr. Claude Steiner and the theory of Transactional Analysis, this book explores alternatives to power and how we can use these to work and manage more effectively, with integrity and joy.

Within this book, the authors examine and expand on Steiner’s idiosyncratic views on the role of ‘power’ in our lives and work, which led to a new view of the relationship between management and power. Steiner suggested seven alternative ways to be influential, without the use of power, which include: grounding, passion, control, empathy/love, communication, knowledge, and transcendence. This book explores and describes these seven alternative sources of power in more detail, and how they can be used to produce change and increase the personal power of all, rather than playing power games.

This will be a valuable resource for managers and leaders in all types of organizations, as well as for coaches, clinicians, and anyone who is interested in forms of influence other than the use of (autocratic) power.

Anne de Graaf, (MSc) is TSTA in the field of management and organizational development and CTA in the field of psychotherapy. Anne was founder, trainer, and supervisor at the Dutch TA academy and was a lecturer at the MSc Organizational TA program in the UK. He is currently the owner of RondHeel, consultancy and training. He is a coauthor of Into TA: A Comprehensive Textbook on Transactional Analysis and of Einstein and the Art of Sailing. He also co-edited Climate Change in Organizations and New Theory and Practice of Transactional Analysis in Organizations.

Klaas Kunst pursued a degree in Dutch linguistics and literature. After working as a teacher and counselor at a secondary school, he transitioned into a senior consultant role and later assumed the position of managing director within a governmental organization. Collaborating with his colleague Anne de Graaf, he coauthored several management books, one of which is Einstein and the Art of Sailing. In his private practice, his primary focus lies on providing individual and team coaching services.