10 Types of Power in Leadership

By Indeed Editorial Team

May 27, 2021

A leader's influence can determine how well common goals are met in the workplace.
This power is a fundamental tool used by great leaders. The type of power used varies
from person to person based on environment, personality and skill. In this article, we
define what leadership power is and the 10 types of power in leadership.

Show Transcript

What is leadership power?

Leadership power is the influence that leaders have over their followers. It persuades
others to support their efforts and do as they ask. Influence is essential to leadership
because leaders cannot exist without it. It is also a key component of power and
authority.

Power and authority are often used interchangeably but their meanings have nuanced
differences. Power is the influence someone has over another. It refers to the ability to
accomplish a goal with the help of others. Authority is the right to exercise that
influence.

Supervisors have authority because of their position in the workplace. They possess a
type of power because of this, but a staff member can also have power if they are well-
liked by colleagues. The staff member has no authority but colleagues are willing to
follow them because of their relationship.

10 types of power in leadership

A leader is one who inspires others to act. Good leaders possess a type of power that
encourages self-improvement and team building and promotes a positive work culture.
The types of power are how people are influenced. The 10 common types of power in
leadership are:

1. Legitimate
2. Coercive
3. Referent
4. Charisma
5. Expert
6. Information
7. Reward
 8. Moral
9. Connection
10. Founder

1. Legitimate

Legitimate power is the power someone holds as the result of a hierarchy in an

organization. They can influence employees because their position dictates it. This is
similar to military rankings. All lower-ranking members must abide by the direction of
their commanding officer and other high-ranking officials. This structure helps to
organize large businesses and ensure everyone is following the same goals.

You gain legitimate power in an organization by showing you have what it takes to be a
supervisor, executive or partner. Working as a supervisor lets potential employers know
you can handle the responsibility. Use legitimate power together with other types of
power to be a successful leader.

2. Coercive

Coercive power is the power someone holds through threat or force. In an organization,
a higher-ranking manager can force a lower-ranking employee to act in a way they don't
want to with a threat of termination or other disciplinary action. This type of power can
be used in cases of insubordinate employees but when relied upon as a common tool, it
can breed resentment.

Coercion can occur between colleagues or even from an employee to a manager. In

this case, the leveraging factor is the threat of exposing unwanted information or
something similar.

3. Referent

Referent power is the power that role models hold. It occurs when a leader has strong
interpersonal skills and others follow them because of a deep admiration. For example,
an employee tries to solve a conflict and refers to what his mentor would do and follows
that model to resolve the issue.

This power is not one leader can bestow on themselves. The admiring party gives the
leader the designation of role model.

Develop your interpersonal skills by taking an interest in others. Listen when they speak
and respond appropriately. Well-liked people inspire loyalty and a willingness to work
together on common goals.
4. Charisma

Charisma is the nature of attractiveness or charm that compels others to follow

someone. Charismatic power inspires positivity and joyful feelings in others. The
persuasive nature of this power is reliant on the engaging quality of the leader's
personality. This power does not have to exist with any explicit skills or refined
leadership qualities. People are naturally drawn to the charisma of others. When used
as a tool in conjunction with well-rounded leadership, it can inspire great change.

Charisma is a natural byproduct of an outgoing personality. It works best when felt

honestly. Learn to be charismatic by developing confidence in your unique abilities. If
you feel more comfortable connecting with people one-on-one rather than in large
groups, this may be your way of displaying charm. Embrace your strengths and use
them to your advantage.

5. Expert

Expert power exists in an organization when one member possesses a set of skills
others don't have. This leads others to defer to the expert. Employees typically assume
managers or executives possess some skill or knowledge the others don't. Anyone in
the organization can hold expertise power.

To use expert power in your career, pursue expertise in your field. When you
demonstrate a high level of competence, people may begin to defer to you or follow
your advice because of your experience.

6. Information

Power based on information lasts as long as the information is not known to others. This
puts the person in possession of the information in a unique position to leverage this
power however they choose.

While having information power can be a one-time occurrence, you can become a
person who is known to have key information on the industry, products or market. By
developing a curiosity for important news and innovations in your field, you may become
a valued resource to your colleagues.

7. Reward

Gifts can give someone a strong influence on the behavior of others. Reward power
exists when a manager has the power to offer incentives to employees who perform
well. For example, offering a raise to employees with the highest sales numbers
signifies reward power.
As a workplace leader, reward power works best when the reward is something relevant
to the employees. Having something they desire can encourage boosts in productivity.
The incentives must also be attainable to keep morale high.

8. Moral

A leader with moral power inspires action based on their beliefs and behavior. Moral
leaders live by a principle that others can see and decide to follow. Employees are
inspired by these leaders because the leader builds trust through their ethics. They
become a role model for setting personal standards.

To use moral power in your career, establish a personal mission statement and
philosophy to live by. When you make this statement known to others and consistently
live by your principles, they come to trust your example.

9. Connection

Leaders have connection power when their alliance with influential people is admired
and desired by others. The connection gives people the sense that the leader
possesses or has access to the same power that the influential person has. This is
beneficial in cases where the leader has connections to possible business investors.

Building relationships establish a framework for connection power. Take advantage of

networking opportunities to make lasting friendships throughout your career.

10. Founder

Founder power exists when a leader is the founder of an organization, ideal or

movement. Others defer to this person's power because there is a perception of having
a deeper knowledge than the others through experience.

Becoming an entrepreneur of a successful business gives you founder power even after
you have stepped down from running day-to-day activities.

Qualities of an effective leader

Leadership is a combination of qualities that inspire others to achieve a common goal.
Certain qualities of leadership occur more readily in some people than in others.
Through patience and goal setting, anyone can learn to be an effective leader. Here are
some common qualities of a successful leader:

Honesty
Honesty in a leader builds trust and credibility among employees. People are more
willing to work with someone they believe can deliver promised results. An honest
leader also inspires a culture of taking responsibility for your work and actions.

Integrity

Integrity is a consistent upholding of personal principles. It is important in leadership

because it inspires trust and reference in others.

Confidence

An effective leader must have confidence in their own actions to inspire others to act in
harmony. Confidence gives the impression that a leader knows what they are doing and
are capable of solving the current problem.

Empathy

The ability to see things from the perspective of others is an essential quality of
leadership. With this core skill, the leader can suggest changes that help team members
improve on their personal strengths.

Enthusiasm and inspiration

Like charisma, enthusiasm stimulates people into action. It inspires positive feelings that
help employees push through challenges and discover innovative solutions. An
enthusiastic leader keeps motivation high and inspires confidence.

Accountability

Leaders demonstrate accountability when they consistently deliver on their promises,

take responsibility for their actions and live up to a high-performance standard. These
standards can be the result of a personal philosophy or an organizational goal.