Abuse of Organizational Power

When a person is promoted or placed in a position where he can use the power or political influence from that position to affect an organization he will be placed under a microscope. His use of this power will be analyzed and scrutinized from an ethical (and other) perspective. The problem is that in trying to do right by the company as a whole, he is at times asked to “sacrifice” others. The use of power is not always capable of benefiting all, and is more likely to offend some. This can place him in the unenviable position of being labeled as unethical.

Abuse is easier to classify, if power or influence can be “misinterpreted” as being used for personal or financial gain, then the person in power must re-evaluate the action. Many in this position are tempted by the power they are given and can succumb to using it for their own benefit. Excluding all those that blatantly do so, even those who dawdle in the gray areas should carefully evaluate if their actions can be seen by others as abusive or unethical and consider another course. When in power, the perceptions of others can be more powerful (and ultimately more damaging) than the power you are deluded into thinking you have – especially in today’s media.