Sources of power

Power can come from a variety of sources, but the most common sources of power are human resources, authority, and reward.

Human resources are the most common source of power. This includes the influence of a person’s knowledge, expertise, experience, and interpersonal skills. This type of power is often seen in a mentor-mentee relationship, where the mentor has more experience and knowledge on a given subject and can provide guidance and advice to the mentee.

Authority is also an important source of power. This type of power is derived from a person’s position in an organization or government. People with authority can make decisions, give orders, and shape the direction of the organization.

Reward is the third most common source of power. This type of power comes from the ability to reward people with money, recognition, promotions, and other desirable outcomes. People can use reward power to influence others and encourage them to take certain actions.

Example of Sources of power

• Expert power: Expert power is derived from the knowledge, experience, and expertise of an individual. This type of power is often seen in a mentor-mentee relationship, where the mentor has more experience and knowledge on a given subject and can provide guidance and advice to the mentee.
• Coercive power: Coercive power is derived from the ability to punish people for failing to comply with requests. People with coercive power can use negative outcomes like layoffs, demotions, and fines to influence others.
• Legitimate power: Legitimate power is derived from a person’s position in an organization or government. People with legitimate power can make decisions, give orders, and shape the direction of the organization.
• Reward power: Reward power is derived from the ability to reward people with money, recognition, promotions, and other desirable outcomes. People can use reward power to influence others and encourage them to take certain actions.

When to use sources of power

There are many situations when the use of power sources can be beneficial. For example, when a manager needs to motivate employees to work towards an organizational goal, they can use reward power to incentivize employees. Additionally, when a leader needs to make a decision and needs input from others, they can use their authority to make a decision or seek advice from those with more knowledge or experience. Finally, when a leader needs to develop a strategy or plan, they can use their human resources to draw on their own knowledge and expertise, as well as the knowledge and experience of their team.

Types of sources of power

There are several different types of sources of power, each of which can be used to influence and shape the behavior of individuals and organizations. These include coercion, expertise, referent, information, and reward.

• Coercion is the use of force or threats to influence someone’s behavior. It can be used to manipulate people into taking actions they would not otherwise take or to prevent them from taking actions they would otherwise take.
• Expertise is the use of knowledge and experience to influence someone’s behavior. People can use their expertise to provide advice and guidance to others, convincing them to take certain actions or to avoid taking certain actions.
• Referent power is derived from a person’s charisma and likability. People who are well-liked or respected can use this type of power to influence and shape the behavior of others.
• Information power is the ability to gather and use information to influence people’s behavior. People can use information to persuade, manipulate, and shape people’s behavior.
• Reward power is the ability to reward people for taking certain actions or for avoiding certain actions. People can use reward power to encourage people to take certain actions or avoid taking certain actions.

Advantages of Sources of power

There are several advantages to using these sources of power.

• Human resources can be used to develop relationships with others and leverage expertise and experience.
• Authority can be used to make decisions and shape the direction of an organization.
• Reward power can be used to incentivize desired behavior and encourage people to take certain actions.

Limitations of Sources of power

There are several limitations of these sources of power. The first limitation is that power can be abused. People with power can use it to control and manipulate others, instead of using it to benefit the organization. Additionally, power is not always permanent. As people move up in the organization, their power can change. Finally, power can be taken away if it is not used responsibly.

Another limitation is that power is limited by the resources available. People with power can only do so much with the resources they have. Additionally, people with power can only influence those around them. They may not be able to influence people outside of their own organization.

Other approaches related to Sources of power

Power can also come from other sources such as charisma, information, and legitimacy.

• Charisma is an intangible source of power that comes from a person’s likability and charm. People with charisma can easily influence others and get them to do what they want.
• Information power is derived from a person’s knowledge and expertise. People with access to important information can use it to influence those around them.
• Legitimacy is another source of power that comes from the belief that a person has the right to make decisions or take certain actions. People in positions of authority can use legitimacy to influence others and shape the direction of their organization.

Sources of power — recommended articles

Social learning theory — Cognitive dissonance theory — Social cognitive theory — Acquired needs theory — Degree of freedom — Shared mental models — Psychological drives — Belbin team roles — Theory X and Y

References

• Mechanic, D. (1962). Sources of power of lower participants in complex organizations. Administrative science quarterly, 349-364.