POWER PLAYThe impact and types of power leaders

possess.

WHAT IS POWER?Power impacts all relationships in everyday

life.

How a parent treats a child. How a

coach trains a team.

How a politician gets a bill passed.

WHAT IS POWER?The ability to act or produce an effect

TYPES OF POWER

REWARD POWERA leader’s ability to give rewards and positive

consequences if people do what is asked of them.

EXAMPLE:While shopping at the grocery store, a father promises his daughter a candy bar if she will be quiet until they are done.

REWARD POWERPOSITIVE EFFECT

NEGATIVE EFFECT

• Motivation for daughter to be quiet.

• Will only be quiet for candy.

• Will not learn basic value of proper behavior.

REFERENT POWERA leader’s likeability. People are willing to do things for people

they like.

EXAMPLE:An admired friend encourages you to do well academically.

REFERENT POWERPOSITIVE EFFECT

NEGATIVE EFFECT

• Inspiration to do better to please leader.

• Peer pressure increases.

• Can lead to poor choices: bad grades, cheating, drugs.

LEGITIMATE POWERBased on a leader’s position.People see position and think power.

EXAMPLE:Political figures, government officers, police, teachers, principals, student council officers all represent legitimate power.

REFERENT POWERPOSITIVE EFFECT

NEGATIVE EFFECT

• People respect and respond to that person in power.

• Just because a leader- doesn’t mean effective or admirable.

INFORMATION POWERBased on a leader’s control of or access to

information that is perceived as valuable.

EXAMPLE:The student council advisor knows what activities the principal would support or disaprove of.

INFORMATION POWERPOSITIVE EFFECT

NEGATIVE EFFECT

• Can share information to help propose activities.

• Does not waste time with things that will not get approved.

• Could inappropriately share preferences.

• Prevent student council from having new ideas.

EXPERT POWERBased on a leader’s expertise, skill and

knowledge.

EXAMPLE:Doctor’s, scientists, lawyers, professors, athlete’s, or anyone else who is considered a professional.

EXPERT POWERPOSITIVE EFFECT

NEGATIVE EFFECT

• Can get best and most accurate information.

• Can get misleading or incomplete information.

• Base decisions off of bad information.

CONNECTION POWERBased on who a leader knows. Having connections or relationships with important

people.

EXAMPLE:A high school senior knows a parent who is an alumnus of a nearby private college. The alumnus gets the student an interview.

CONNECTION POWERPOSITIVE EFFECT

NEGATIVE EFFECT

• Connections can help obtain things: recommendations, acceptances, jobs, passes/tickets.

• Some people don’t deserve what they receive.

• Keep others from getting things who do.

COERCIVE POWERLeader’s ability to invoke fear on people. Ability to take away privileges or punish those

who do not cooperate.

EXAMPLE:A parent who insists you complete a project exactly the way he or she says or else you can’t do something you were hoping to do.

COERCIVE POWERPOSITIVE EFFECT

NEGATIVE EFFECT

• Sometimes, setting specific rules is the only way to get things done.

• Often, threatening punishment doesn’t help people recognize value.

MAKING THINGS HAPPEN

AUTHORITYA leader’s position or rank, such as president.

A leader uses their authority to:

Give directions Reassure the group that someone is in charge.State his or her own preference.Make others obey.Oversee a project, without actually getting

involved.

INFLUENCEMotivating and inspiring other members of

group.Persuading without being obvious/direct.A leader uses influence to:

Support others in accomplishing.Help achieve goals together.Encourage cooperation and communication.Allow people to ask questions.Take steps to get things done.Drive particular decisions.