The Need for Power.

In life we meet so many different people. from time to time in our travels we come across a person who has a need to be in charge or things have to be their way or no way. This in not particular to any group but almost every group seems to have one or two. Maybe we all have been like this at one time or another. I decided to do some research on the subject and found this study by McClelland in 1961 to have been very helpful. What I like about it is that he writes in a manner that is understandable to the layman or anyone reading it.

The need for power

McClelland (1961), identified Power as one of three needs related to management behaviour, the other two being Achievement and Affiliation. Ironically, McClelland claims to have identified a strong power orientation amongst Psychologists! The need for Power is an urge to control others: to be able to influence them and make them do things which perhaps they would not have done if left to themselves. Along with this they accumulate the symbols and status of power and the prestige they consider to go along with it.

McClelland identified four stages within the power orientation:

1. Drawing inner strength from others - being a loyal follower and serving the power of other people;

2. Strengthening oneself - beginning to play the power game, collecting symbols of status, one-upmanship, trying to dominate situations;

3. Self-assertiveness - becoming more aggressive and trying to manipulate situations so as to use other people to achieve one's own targets;

4. Acting as an instrument of higher authority - identifying with some organisation or authority system and employing the methods learnt in stages 2 and 3 but now being able to claim formal legitimacy.

Blake and Mouton (1964) would feature the kind of person who maximises this kind of approach as having the 'Authority - Obedience' style of management: concentrating on maximising production through the exercise of personal authority and power.

This style of management is described by Chell (1987):
" such a leader combines a high concern for production with a low concern for people. He or she concentrates on maximising production by exercising power and authority, and achieving control over people by dictating what they should do and how they should do it. Typically he or she will 'drive him - or herself and others', investigate situations to ensure control and that others are not making mistakes; defend own ideas and opinions even though it may mean rejecting those of others; deal with conflict by either trying to cut it off or winning own position; make own decisions; is rarely influenced by others; and is not afraid to pinpoint other people's weaknesses and failures."


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Reaching Out: Masonic Youth

I am a member of the Masonic Fraternity and an Advisor for DeMolay for Young men which is a Masonic Youth Group. The other youth groups are Job's Daughters and International of Rainbow for Girls. Daily we read or hear about young people being victims of violent crimes. Many of these are innocent victims of drive by shootings. In many cases they are gang related. We know that the members of our youth groups are going to grow up to be fine upstanding young men and women because they learn by example from the Adult groups and in most cases at home. There are many children out there in our communities that do not know about DeMolay, Job’s Daughters and Rainbow Girls or other groups offered to young people. Some of these children are on the brink of going one way or another in life. One single moment or action that can make them become good adults or criminals. In many cases the Initiation to join a gang is to shoot someone, victims that are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Many who join are not bad children to begin with but looking for love or something to belong to and call their own. There is nothing better to belong to than the Masonic Family or other worthy service group. I can speak only about the Masonic Youth groups. We have to find these children that need direction and give them a chance to be part of something positive, worthwhile and wonderful. Being involved with Masonic Youth will give them good associations and a chance to take the right road. One young person saved from making the bad decision of joining a gang or associating with criminals is a 100 percent win. Please Masonic Family Members and the members of the community let's help these young people by directing them to a Masonic Youth Advisor. Let’s give them a chance to have a good life, good examples and a family that they can count on. I believe that we as a team can work together on this endeavor. Let’s help young people everywhere, misguided or not) an opportunity to become contributing members of society and direct them to visit a DeMolay Chapter, Job's Daughter Bethel or Rainbow Assembly. You, my Masonic Family and community members can make a difference in a young person’s life. Let's do more than just make a donation, let's save a life. There are Masonic Lodges in almost every city. The Riverside/Moreno Valley Area Lodges are Montee-Moreno Valley Masonic Lodge, Evergreen Masonic Lodge and Riverside Masonic Lodge. Contact any of these Lodges or any Masonic Lodge to find out more about the opportunities we offer the youth of our communities

Sincerely & Respectfully,

Manny Blanco, P.M., Senior Warden,Moreno Valley Masonic Lodge, DeMolay, Adult Advisor, Grand Lodge of California Youth Orders Committee. Please feel free to contact me as well for direction to a Masonic Youth Group in your area. My information is posted and may be used in this letter.

11945 Kitching Street

Moreno Valley, CA 92557 951-315-1410 masontruth@aol.com