IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jobhdp/v187y2025ics0749597825000160.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

From low power to action: Reappraising powerlessness as an opportunity restores agency

Author

Listed:
  • He, Tianyu
  • Schaerer, Michael
  • Foulk, Trevor A.
  • Wolf, Elizabeth Baily
  • Jiang, Winnie Y.

Abstract

Agentic behaviors are a critical pathway to power in contemporary organizations. Paradoxically, employees who lack power are the least likely to think and act agentically—creating a self-perpetuating cycle of disadvantage. Existing research on facilitating employee agentic behaviors relies on structural solutions that are often out of reach for individual employees. Yet, anecdotal evidence suggests that this view may be incomplete, as some individuals seem to be able to overcome the challenges powerlessness poses without relying on external resources, control, or organizational change. Integrating research on powerlessness and cognitive reappraisal, the present research proposes that cognitively reappraising powerless situations as opportunities can help individuals cope with the negative effects low power has on agency. A negotiation simulation (Study 1) and two experience-sampling field experiments (Studies 2–3) support our predictions: cognitive reappraisal attenuates the negative effects of low-power experiences on approach-related orientation (i.e., the Behavioral Approach System), which subsequently facilitates several indicators of agentic behavior, including employees’ propensity to negotiate (Study 1) and their tendency to engage in voice and task proactivity at work (Studies 2–3). This research proposes a way to break the power-inaction link, suggesting that individuals may regulate their reactions to powerless experiences and offering an empowering and accessible strategy for sustaining agency.

Suggested Citation

  • He, Tianyu & Schaerer, Michael & Foulk, Trevor A. & Wolf, Elizabeth Baily & Jiang, Winnie Y., 2025. "From low power to action: Reappraising powerlessness as an opportunity restores agency," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jobhdp:v:187:y:2025:i:c:s0749597825000160
    DOI: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2025.104404
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597825000160
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.obhdp.2025.104404?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Huisi (Jessica) Li & Ya-Ru Chen & John Angus D. Hildreth, 2023. "Powerlessness Also Corrupts: Lower Power Increases Self-Promotional Lying," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 34(4), pages 1422-1440, July.
    2. Pinkley, Robin L. & Neale, Margaret A. & Bennett, Rebecca J., 1994. "The Impact of Alternatives to Settlement in Dyadic Negotiation," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 57(1), pages 97-116, January.
    3. Pai, Jieun & Whitson, Jennifer & Kim, Junha & Lee, Sujin, 2021. "A relational account of low power: The role of the attachment system in reduced proactivity," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 28-41.
    4. J. Stuart Bunderson & Ray E. Reagans, 2011. "Power, Status, and Learning in Organizations," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(5), pages 1182-1194, October.
    5. Tost, Leigh Plunkett & Johnson, Hana Huang, 2019. "The prosocial side of power: How structural power over subordinates can promote social responsibility," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 25-46.
    6. Aleksandra M. Rogowska & Rafał Tataruch & Konrad Niedźwiecki & Bożena Wojciechowska-Maszkowska, 2022. "The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy in the Relationship between Approach Motivational System and Sports Success among Elite Speed Skating Athletes and Physical Education Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-17, March.
    7. Schaerer, Michael & Foulk, Trevor & du Plessis, Christilene & Tu, Min-Hsuan & Krishnan, Satish, 2021. "Just because you're powerless doesn't mean they aren't out to get you: Low power, paranoia, and aggression," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 1-20.
    8. Ashforth, Blake E., 1989. "The experience of powerlessness in organizations," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 207-242, April.
    9. Schaerer, Michael & du Plessis, Christilene & Yap, Andy J. & Thau, Stefan, 2018. "Low power individuals in social power research: A quantitative review, theoretical framework, and empirical test," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 73-96.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hoever, Inga J. & Betancourt, Nathan E. & Chen, Guoquan & Zhou, Jing, 2023. "How others light the creative spark: Low power accentuates the benefits of diversity for individual inspiration and creativity," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    2. To, Christopher & Leslie, Lisa M. & Torelli, Carlos J. & Stoner, Jennifer L., 2020. "Culture and social hierarchy: Collectivism as a driver of the relationship between power and status," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 159-176.
    3. Schaerer, Michael & Foulk, Trevor & du Plessis, Christilene & Tu, Min-Hsuan & Krishnan, Satish, 2021. "Just because you're powerless doesn't mean they aren't out to get you: Low power, paranoia, and aggression," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 1-20.
    4. Williams, Melissa J. & Lopiano, Gabrielle & Heller, Daniel, 2022. "When the boss steps up: Workplace power, task responsibility, and engagement with unpleasant tasks," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    5. Brady, Garrett L. & Inesi, M. Ena & Mussweiler, Thomas, 2021. "The power of lost alternatives in negotiations," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 59-80.
    6. Pai, Jieun & Whitson, Jennifer & Kim, Junha & Lee, Sujin, 2021. "A relational account of low power: The role of the attachment system in reduced proactivity," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 28-41.
    7. Kray, Laura J. & Kennedy, Jessica A. & Rosenblum, Michael, 2022. "Who do they think they are?: A social-cognitive account of gender differences in social sexual identity and behavior at work," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    8. Dalila B. S. Menezes & Megi Gumashivili & Kiti Kanokon, 2025. "The Role of Talent Management in Enhancing Employee Retention: Mediating the Influence of Psychological Empowerment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-22, April.
    9. Xin Liu & Lin Zhang & Abhinav Gupta & Xiaoming Zheng & Changqi Wu, 2022. "Upper echelons and intra‐organizational learning: How executive narcissism affects knowledge transfer among business units," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(11), pages 2351-2381, November.
    10. Pinkley, Robin L. & Conlon, Donald E. & Sawyer, John E. & Sleesman, Dustin J. & Vandewalle, Don & Kuenzi, Maribeth, 2019. "The power of phantom alternatives in negotiation: How what could be haunts what is," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 34-48.
    11. Hope, Ole-Kristian & Su, Xijiang, 2021. "Peer-level analyst transitions," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    12. Parker, Owen N. & Mui, Rachel & Bhawe, Nachiket & Semadeni, Matthew, 2022. "Insight or ignorance: How collaborative history in a workgroup fits with project type to shape performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 154-167.
    13. Curhan, Jared R. & Neale, Margaret A. & Ross, Lee & Rosencranz-Engelmann, Jesse, 2008. "Relational accommodation in negotiation: Effects of egalitarianism and gender on economic efficiency and relational capital," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 107(2), pages 192-205, November.
    14. Hall, Matthew, 2008. "The effect of comprehensive performance measurement systems on role clarity, psychological empowerment and managerial performance," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 33(2-3), pages 141-163.
    15. Matteo Prato & Fabrizio Ferraro, 2018. "Starstruck: How Hiring High-Status Employees Affects Incumbents’ Performance," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(5), pages 755-774, October.
    16. K. Dewettinck & J. Singh & D. Buyens, 2003. "Psychological Empowerment in the Workplace: Reviewing the Empowerment Effects on Critical Work Outcomes," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 03/210, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    17. Linda Argote & Sunkee Lee & Jisoo Park, 2021. "Organizational Learning Processes and Outcomes: Major Findings and Future Research Directions," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(9), pages 5399-5429, September.
    18. Lai-Bennejean, Christine & Arndt, Aaron D, 2025. "Empowering salespeople in complex negotiations: autonomy and leeway in preparation and concession-making," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    19. Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih & Ahmed E. Abu Elnasr, 2024. "Challenges to Cracking the Glass Ceiling among Saudi Women in the Tourism Industry," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-22, March.
    20. Loan Pham Thi Phuong & Young-joo Ahn, 2021. "Service Climate and Empowerment for Customer Service Quality among Vietnamese Employees at Restaurants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-14, January.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jobhdp:v:187:y:2025:i:c:s0749597825000160. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/obhdp .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.