Power Is a Function of Dependence
If you want more power, consider…
Power is a function of dependence.
Power isn’t possessed. It’s relational.
This is important. Because power isn’t a possession. It’s relational. It’s directional.
And your personal power isn’t located in you. It’s located in someone else’s need for you.
Conceptually, that means if A has power over B, A’s power comes from B’s dependence on A.
Here’s that visually:
B —dependence→ A
Where greater dependence = greater power.
(This idea comes from sociologist Richard M. Emerson’s theory of power-dependence relations. Rather than treating power as something an individual possesses, Emerson argued power exists within a relationship: A’s power over B rests on B’s dependence on A. See source below).
How dependence creates power
If you want more power, look to who or what depends on you.
To increase your power, then:
- Increase the number of people or systems that depend on the value you provide.
- Increase the value you provide to those who already depend on you.
- Do both.
Dependence grows when what you provide matters—and when alternatives are scarce.
So power isn’t really about control. It’s about asymmetry of dependence.
Want more power? Become more valuable.
Become more valuable.
Become harder to replace.
And the inverse is just as useful.
Where are you giving power away?
If you want to understand where you’ve given power away, ask:
Who or what do I depend on?
If you want to understand where your power lies, ask:
Who or what depends on me?
Tell me who and what depends on you and I’ll tell you your power.
Source
Emerson, Richard M. (1962). “Power-Dependence Relations.” American Sociological Review, 27(1), 31–41. https://doi.org/10.2307/2089716
Full paper: PDF hosted by MIT
DOI: 10.2307/2089716
