Affiliations: College of Business, The University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, Florida 32514, USA
Note: [*] This paper has been partially based on previous research papers, presented by the author, at the National Conference of The Association of Human Resources Management and Organizational Behavior (Boston 1985) and The Western Economic Association International Conference (Los Angeles 1988).
Abstract: The focus of this paper is the situational impact of power and how it influences leadership effectiveness. The ‘Power Circle’ concept is utilized to depict an individual's power configuration in a given situation. To be totally cognizant of one's ability to act in a contingency, an individual must be aware of and utilize those particular power bases in which he or she is situationally strong. Someone's power base may change according to the needs of the situation. An individual must constantly be aware that changes can and will occur. Additionally, the ability to achieve power effectiveness in a given situation enhances one's future power potential in similar situations.
Keywords: Power, Power circle, Authority, Management styles, Personnel management, Leadership attributes, Leadership concepts, Power configuration
