When most people are asked to define power, they think about the power a leader possesses as a function of their responsibility for subordinates. Others may think that power comes from the title or position this individual holds.
Type | Description | Example |
---|---|---|
Legitimate Power | Power derived from a formal position or title of authority. | – CEO’s authority in an organization – Department heads’ leadership within departments |
Reward Power | Power associated with the ability to offer rewards or incentives for desired actions. | – Sales managers offering bonuses for exceeding sales targets – HR managers recognizing outstanding employees with awards |
Expert Power | Power based on possessing specialized knowledge, skills, or expertise in a particular field. | – Senior surgeons’ influence in healthcare due to their extensive experience – Chief Technology Officer (CTO) guiding tech innovations |
Referent Power | Power stemming from admiration, respect, and strong relationships with others. | – Celebrity endorsements influencing consumer decisions – Charismatic leaders earning the loyalty and trust of their teams |
Coercive Power | Power involving the use of threats or punishment to force compliance or specific actions. | – Project managers enforcing project deadlines through ultimatums – Disciplinary actions taken by supervisors |
Informational Power | Power derived from controlling valuable information that others need. | – Temporary power held by data security personnel controlling encryption keys – Project managers with crucial project information |
Understanding forms of power
Various forms of power describe how one person may exert power over another in both personal and professional contexts.
While these definitions are certainly valid in some instances, they remain a superficial way to define power which, in truth, is far more nuanced.
In a landmark 1959 study by social psychologists John R. P. French and Bertram Raven, the pair advocated that power could be separated into five separate and distinct forms. A sixth form was later added in 1965.
French and Raven equated power with social influence, describing it as “a change in the belief, attitude, or behavior of a person (the target of influence) which results from the action of another person (an influencing agent)”.
Since the 1950s, studies into social communication and power have resulted in the development of various theories.
One of these is that leadership and power are closely linked and that the various forms of power affect one’s leadership and success in the workplace.
The six forms of power
According to French and Raven, the six forms of power include:
Legitimate
This is power derived from elected, selected, or appointed positions of authority.
Those with legitimate power maintain authority for as long as they remain in the position.
Since this type of power is recognized by subordinates, it is effective in hierarchical organizations and also in the military.
Reward
Where rewards such as raises, benefits, promotions, or praise are offered in exchange for performing a task or achieving a result.
Reward power can be effective but does not necessarily guarantee subordinates’ sustained support or commitment.
Expert
Those with expert power possess detailed knowledge or expertise in a particular field.
They tend to attract people who want to benefit from their knowledge and their expertise engenders credibility and trust.
Referent
This tends to be associated with power enjoyed by celebrities and other public figures who have large followings.
These individuals can exert a sustained influence over others – sometimes even after death.
In the workplace, referent power is one of the most valuable because it is built on relationships characterized by admiration and respect.
Coercive
Where threats are made to make someone take a desired course of action.
In the workplace, coercive threats are often rooted in fear and include the prospect of demotion, transfer, or termination.
Informational
A short-term form of power derived from controlling information others need to achieve something.
Project managers who possess the specific details of a project hold power momentarily, but this is relinquished once they share the details with the team.
For this reason, informational power does not build credibility or influence.
Implications for the six forms of power
Each of the six forms of power has distinct advantages and disadvantages.
Therefore, in the workplace, it is important for leaders to be aware of these and how they can impact culture and employee motivation.
Leaders can also use French and Raven’s work to identify a form they subconsciously default to which is not in their best interests.
It is also worth noting that power must be exerted wisely, with a recent Gallup study finding that managers have more influence over employee well-being and burnout than the number of working hours.
Examples
- Legitimate Power in Business: The CEO of a large corporation holds a position of legitimate power, and subordinates follow the CEO’s decisions, maintaining hierarchy and aligning organizational goals.
- Reward Power in Sales and Marketing: A sales manager motivates the sales team by offering cash bonuses, paid vacations, and incentives for achieving and surpassing sales targets.
- Expert Power in Healthcare: A senior surgeon possesses expert power due to extensive experience and knowledge in their specialty, earning the trust and respect of other medical professionals.
- Referent Power in Celebrity Endorsements: A famous celebrity endorses a brand, leveraging their massive fan following and positive reputation to influence consumer purchasing decisions.
- Coercive Power in Project Management: A project manager uses coercive power to address a team member’s consistent missed deadlines by issuing ultimatums and threats of removal from the project.
- Informational Power in Data Security: An employee in a cybersecurity firm temporarily holds informational power by controlling encryption keys for accessing sensitive client data, ensuring data security.
Key takeaways:
- Various forms of power describe how one person may exert power over another in both personal and professional contexts.
- According to a landmark study by French and Raven in 1959, there are six forms of power: legitimate, reward, expert, referent, coercive, and informational.
- Each of the six forms of power has distinct advantages and disadvantages and may be useful in different workplace situations. Managers need to be aware of how they exert power over others because some forms have potential downsides.
Key Highlights:
- Introduction to Forms of Power:
- Power is often associated with leadership and authority, but it comes in various forms and has nuanced meanings.
- Social psychologists John R. P. French and Bertram Raven identified six distinct forms of power in a 1959 study.
- Power is essentially seen as a change in belief, attitude, or behavior resulting from the action of an influencing agent.
- The Six Forms of Power:
- Legitimate Power: Derived from elected, selected, or appointed positions of authority. Effective in hierarchical organizations and the military.
- Reward Power: Involves offering rewards like raises, promotions, or praise for task completion. It may not guarantee sustained support.
- Expert Power: Based on possessing detailed knowledge or expertise in a specific field. Attracts trust and credibility.
- Referent Power: Associated with influential public figures or celebrities with large followings. Built on admiration and respect.
- Coercive Power: Involves making threats to force a desired action. Rooted in fear, often used in workplaces for control.
- Informational Power: Derived from controlling necessary information temporarily. Loses influence once information is shared.
- Implications of the Six Forms of Power:
- Each form of power has its own advantages and disadvantages.
- Leaders must understand how different forms of power impact workplace culture and employee motivation.
- Recognizing their default power approach can help leaders use power more effectively.
- Wise use of power is crucial, as managers can influence employee well-being and burnout more than just working hours.
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