Five Sources of Leader Power Essay Example

of the most obvious types of power a leader has. However good leaders use coercive power only as a last resort: In today’s sophisticated and complex workplace, excessive use of coercive power unleashes unpredictable and destabilizing forces which can ultimately undermine the leader using it. For instance, a manager has less coercive power if, say, a union contract limits his or her ability to punish.

A manager implements an absenteeism policy that administers disciplinary actions to offending the employees. The fourth power is referent power. The leader with this power has personal characteristics that appeal to others and people comply due to admiration, personal liking, a desire for approval, or a desire to be like the leader. For example, young, friendly and ambitious managers emulate the work habits and personal styles of a successful executive. An executive who is disliked and incapable, and unskilled has little referent power.

Last but not least, expert power is where followers do what they’re asked because they respect the leader’s knowledge and expertise and, because of such, trust him or her to give the best guidance. People comply because they believe in, can learn from, or can otherwise gain from the expertise. For instance, a marketing manager gives some tips to her employees how to market the products well and the employees will listen to his or her tips because of her efficiency on that area.