The theme of this week’s lesson was power and influence. The lesson explained the difference between power and influence, power being the capacity to change others’ behavior, and influence being the actual change of other individuals’ behavior (PSU W.C. L7). A major concept in the lesson was the different types of power, and the means of getting power. French and Raven defined five bases of power in 1959. They are expert power, referent power, legitimate power, reward power, and coercive power (PSU W.C. L7).
Expert power is primarily the power of knowledge and experience (PSU W.C. L7). For example, a finger print analyst could be considered an expert witness in a criminal trial. By giving testimony on the stand, the expert witness has expert power over the jury because the jury gives extra weight to what the expert has to say. He/she influences the jury through the power of knowledge and experience.
Referent power focuses on the leader and the subordinates. If a leader is considered to have referent power, he/she would be considered to be a role model (PSU W.C. L7). An example of a leader who has referent power is Oprah. While she holds no real public office, there are scores of individuals who look up to her as a role model and her influence is very far reaching.
Power that is formally awarded to someone is considered legitimate power. Legitimate power is a relationship between the leader and the situation (PSU W.C. L7). Barack Obama is a great example of a leader with legitimate power. The citizen’s of the US vote the president into power, and the the US government ratifies this power. Then in a formal ceremony, the Inauguration, the president accepts the award of power.
Reward power involves the leader, followers, and the situation. A leader exercises reward power when they use their control of desired resources to influence their followers (PSU W.C. L7). When a mother tells her child that if he is good at the doctor, she will take him to get ice cream, she is exercising reward power.
The final base of power is coercive power. Coercive power is the opposite of reward power. Coercive power is influencing others to behave a certain way through fear or the loss of sought after items or outcomes (PSU W.C. L7). The law is a big example of coercive power. If you break a law, such as stealing, you will be arrested and either fined or sentenced to time in jail.
Different situations often call for different types of power and influence. A leader can employ different bases of power at different times. He/she can even use multiple types of power at one time. The idea of power and influence can often be very complex.
References:
Penn State World Campus (2013). PSYCH 485 Lesson 7: Introduction to leadership. Retrieved on Feb 24, 2013, from https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/sp13/psych485/003/content/01_lesson/01_page.html.
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