Power in leadership enables managers to help their teams reach common goals. There are different types of power effective leaders use.
Well, exploring each type of power can help you learn about your present or potential management approach so you feel equipped to educate, encourage, and persuade your team. So, stay with us through the blog as we will discuss and try to understand the different types of power and how leaders use them.
What Is Leadership Power?
Leadership power is the influence that leaders/ managers have over their followers. It influences others to support the efforts of the leader and do as they ask. Influence is essential to leadership training because it helps leaders establish relationships with their teams and maintain control, which is the right to exercise power.
Managers/ leaders have the authority because of their position in the workplace. A team member can also have the power if they are well-liked by their colleagues or have specific skills/ knowledge that can contribute to their team’s or the organization’s success. While a team member might not have the authority of the manager, colleagues follow leaders whom they respect.
The Types Of Power Effective Leaders Use
A leader motivates others to act, and leadership power enables them to influence their teams. Good leaders possess a kind of power that encourages self-improvement and team-building, thus promoting a positive work culture.
Below are the top types of power effective leaders use.
- Legitimate Power
Legitimate power is the outcome of hierarchy in an organization. Leaders with this power can influence employees because their position dictates it. For instance, military rank. All lower-ranking team members abide by the guidance of their commanding officers. This structure helps maintain the company and ensures everyone works towards the same goals.
You might gain legitimate power in an organization by showcasing that you have the experience and skills to lead a team effectively. You can do this by working in a management role or taking on jobs outside your routine responsibilities. Managers/ leaders can use legitimate power together with other kinds of power to be successful leaders.
- Coercive Power
Another one of the best types of power effective leaders use is coercive power.
Coercive power is the power that someone gains through threat or force. A higher-ranking manager forcing a lower-ranking employee to perform tasks or face disciplinary action is an example of coercive leadership.
Managers can use this kind of power positively, including disciplining team members who break rules to help them correct their behavior and improve their productivity.
- Referent Power
Referent power is the power which role models hold. It occurs when a leader has strong interpersonal skills, so others follow them because they find the leader inspiring. For instance, an employee who wishes to resolve a conflict refers to what his mentor might do and follows that model to resolve the issue.
This power is not something leaders can bestow on themselves, as those who admire them designate them as role models. Develop your interpersonal skills by taking an interest in others. Listen to what they speak and react appropriately. Well-liked individuals inspire loyalty and a readiness to work together by building trust with their teams.
- Charismatic Power
Charisma is the nature of attractiveness/ charm that compels others to follow someone. This kind of power inspires positivity and happy feelings in employees. In addition, the persuasive nature of charismatic power relies on the engaging quality of the leader’s personality. This power doesn’t have a structured approach with explicit skills or excellent leadership qualities. However, it relies on an established, well-rounded leadership style that can inspire great change.
Charisma is a byproduct of an outgoing personality. People often find others charismatic when they consider their interest in others to be genuine. You can learn to be charismatic by developing confidence in your unique capabilities and using them to help others. Moreover, you can exercise charismatic power when connecting with individuals one-on-one or in larger groups.
- Expert Power
Expert power exists in an organization when one member possesses the skills others don’t have. This leads others to defer to the expert. Employees generally assume managers or executives possess some skills/ knowledge that others don’t. However, that’s the wrong notion – anyone in the organization can hold expert power.
In order to use expert power in your career, pursue expertise in your field. When you demonstrate a high level of competence, people might ask you for advice or trust you to solve problems because of the experience you have. Thus, practicing expert power can also help you seek a management role or advance in your present management position.
- Reward Power
Another one of the best types of power effective leaders use is reward power.
Gifts can offer someone the ability to influence the behavior of others. Reward power exists when a leader has the power to provide incentives to employees who perform well. For instance, offering promotions or raises to employees with the highest sales numbers signifies reward power.
As a workplace leader, reward power might be most effective when the reward is relevant to the employees. Having something they desire can motivate them to enhance their productivity. Thus, keeping incentives attainable can enable you to improve or maintain morale among your team.
- Moral Power
A leader having moral power inspires action based on their behavior and beliefs. Such leaders live by a principle that others can observe and decide to follow. These leaders inspire employees because they build trust through their ethics. They transition into a role model for setting personal standards.
In order to use moral power in your career, it is best to establish a personal mission statement and a philosophy for the workplace. When you make this statement known to others and live by your principles, they tend to trust your example. They might reflect your personal morals, the organization’s ethics, or a mix of both!
Conclusion
Effective leaders utilize numerous forms of power to inspire and guide their teams toward achieving goals. By leveraging a mix of influence, authority, and motivation, they can effectively address different situations as well as challenges.
In addition, these leaders understand the significance of adaptability, thus applying different approaches depending on the context and the needs of their team members. They build trust, foster motivation, and create an environment where employees feel valued and empowered. Thus, the strategic use of power helps leaders create a positive, productive, and harmonious workplace that drives success and growth for the organization.
