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  • July – August 2010
  • Column
  • Harvard Business Review

Powerlessness Corrupts

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter
  • Format:Print
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Abstract

Powerlessness damages organizations--especially in the middle ranks, says HBR columnist Rosabeth Moss Kanter. Hemmed in by rules and treated as unimportant, people get even with management by overcontrolling their own turf. Kanter urges leaders to give employees opportunities to make meaningful contributions, because small wins along those lines can propel big changes.

Keywords

Employee Relationship Management; Opportunities; Behavior; Motivation and Incentives; Power and Influence

Citation

Kanter, Rosabeth M. "Powerlessness Corrupts." Harvard Business Review 88, nos. 7-8 (July–August 2010).
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About The Author

Rosabeth M. Kanter

General Management
→More Publications

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More from the Author
  • The Miccosukee Tribe and the Battle to Save the Everglades (B): The Art of Coalition Building By: Rosabeth Moss Kanter and Jacob A. Small
  • The Miccosukee Tribe and the Battle to Save the Everglades (B): The Art of Coalition Building By: Rosabeth Moss Kanter and Jacob A. Small
  • Bridj and the Business of Urban Mobility (B): A New Model in Kansas City By: Rosabeth Moss Kanter and Jonathan Cohen
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