Power in Leadership: 9 Types for Effective Leaders
Updated December 30, 2022
Jenn, an Indeed Career Coach, explains the top leadership styles in management and how to identify the one that's right for you and your team.
Related jobs on Indeed
What is leadership power?
Leadership power is the influence that leaders have over their followers. It persuades others to support the leader's efforts and do as they ask. Influence is essential to leadership because it helps them establish relationships with their teams and maintain authority, which is the right to exercise power.Managers have authority because of their position in the workplace. A team member can also have power if they're well-liked by their colleagues or have specific knowledge or skills that can contribute to the success of their team or the organization. While a team member may not have the authority of a manager, colleagues follow those with leadership power because of their respect for them.Related: 7 Defining Characteristics of Leadership InfluenceDo you need help with your resume?
9 types of power in leadership
A leader inspires others to act, and leadership power allows them to influence their teams. Good leaders possess a type of power that encourages self-improvement and team building and promotes a positive work culture. Here are nine common types of power in leadership:1. Legitimate power
Legitimate power is the result of hierarchy in an organization. Leaders with legitimate power can influence employees because their position dictates it. An example of legitimate power is military rank. All lower-ranking members abide by the direction of their commanding officer and other high-ranking officials. This structure helps maintain organization and ensures everyone works toward the same goals.You may gain legitimate power in an organization by showing you have the experience and skills to lead a team effectively. You can do this by working in an assistant management role or taking on duties outside your usual responsibilities. Managers can use legitimate power together with other types of power to be successful leaders.Related: Guide To 6 Top Leadership Theories and How To Apply Them2. Coercive power
Coercive power is the power someone gains through threat or force. For example, a higher-ranking manager forcing a lower-ranking employee to perform tasks or face disciplinary action is a coercive leader. Managers can use this type of power positively, such as when they use discipline when a team member breaks rules to help them correct their behavior and improve their productivity.There are two types of coercive power. Direct coercive power involves expressing to team members your expectations and what the consequences may be if they don't meet them. Managers practice indirect coercive power when their management style leads teams to assume they may receive punishment if they do or don't do certain tasks. Ethical leaders typically use coercive power only when necessary.Related: 8 Qualities of Strong Leadership and How To Become a Stronger Leader3. Referent power
Referent power is the power that role models hold. It occurs when a leader has strong interpersonal skills, so others follow them because they find the leader inspiring. For example, an employee who wants to resolve a conflict refers to what his mentor might do and follows that model to resolve the issue.This power is not one that a leader can bestow on themselves, as those who admire the leader designate them as a 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 by building trust with their teams.Read more: What Is Referent Power? The Secret To Being a Better Leader4. Charismatic power
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 a structured approach with explicit skills or refined leadership qualities but relies on an established, well-rounded leadership style that can inspire great change.Charisma is a natural 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 abilities and using them to help others. You can exercise charismatic power when connecting with people one-on-one or in large groups.Related: Interpersonal Skills: Definitions, Examples and How To Improve5. Expert power
Expert power exists in an organization when one member possesses skills others don't have. This leads others to defer to the expert. Employees typically assume managers or executives possess some skill or knowledge that others don't, but anyone in the organization can hold expert power.To use expert power in your career, pursue expertise in your field. When you demonstrate a high level of competence, people may ask you for advice or trust you to solve certain problems because of your experience. Practicing expert power can also help you seek a management role or advance in your current management position.Related: 19 Tips To Become an Influential Leader For Your Team6. Informational power
Someone holds informational power when they know something others don't. This type of power 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.The difference between informational power and expert power is that you don't need expertise in a certain topic to have informational power. The information you have can involve what you learn from others, through experience or through education. You can have informational power once or many times throughout your career. By developing a curiosity for important news and innovations in your field, you may become a valued resource to your colleagues.Related: 8 Common Leadership Styles (Plus How To Find Your Own)7. Reward power
Gifts can give someone the ability to influence 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 may be most effective when the reward is something relevant to the employees. Having something they desire can encourage boosts in productivity. Keeping incentives attainable can allow you to improve or maintain morale among your team.Related: Employee Recognition Ideas: How To Create a Great Rewards Program8. Moral power
A leader with moral power inspires action based on their beliefs and behavior. Moral leaders live by a principle that others can observe 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 for the workplace. When you make this statement known to others and consistently live by your principles, they come to trust your example. They may reflect your personal morals, the organization's ethics or a combination of both.Related: Integrity in the Workplace: Definition and Examples9. Connection power
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 can be beneficial in cases where the leader has connections to possible business investors or network contacts that can help them in their careers.Building relationships at work can help you establish a framework for connection power. Take advantage of networking opportunities to make lasting business relationships throughout your career. When you have connection power, you can use it wisely by helping your connections create bonds with each other that can be mutually beneficial for everyone involved.Related: Become a Networking Expert in 7 Steps
Explore more articles
- 34 Victim Advocate Interview Questions (With Example Answers)
- How To Become a Phlebotomist in California in 6 Steps
- What Can You Do With a Media Arts Degree? (Plus Salaries)
- What's the Job Outlook for Teachers in 2024
- What Does a Marketing Manager Do? (With Job Requirements)
- Preliminary Teaching Credential FAQs: When and How To Apply
- 5 Key Differences Between CDL vs. Non-CDL Driver's Licenses
- How To Become an Elevator Mechanic (Plus Duties and Salary)
- How To Handle a Colleague Who Takes Over Your Tasks (With Tips)
- How To Become a Ramp Agent (Plus Average Salary)
- 21 Good-Paying Jobs That Require Only a High School Diploma
- How To Become a Clinical Liaison in 6 Steps