L eadership , influence and power are closely related ideas. To describe a person as a leader is to give them honor. But we are reluctant to give the same positive recognition to influence and power, even though leadership cannot occur without these. Indeed, the ideas of influence and power scare some people. Leadership cannot occur without influencing somebody's behavior.
Power is the description of potential or actual influence .
The best use of power does not abuse people. It helps people achieve their goals. This is an attempt to influence by the use of our personal knowledge. Often we don't even recognize that we are using that influence. And we often do not recognize that we are being influenced.