Explain what are the various bases of power?

Answer 1

Power:Power is the ability to make things happen in the way an individual wants, either by self or by the subordinates. The essence of power is to control over the behavior of others.

Bases or sources of power can be grouped into two general groupings - formal and personal - and can be further divided each of these into more specific categories.

A. Formal Power: Formal power is based on an individual's position in an organization. Formal power can come from the ability to coerces or reward, from formal authority, or from control of information.

a) Coercive Power: The coercive power base is dependent on fear. One reacts to this power out of fear of the negative results that might occur if one failed to comply. It rests on the application, or the threat of application, of physical sanctions such as the infliction of pain, the generation of frustration through restriction of movement, or the controlling by force of basic physiological or safety needs.

b) Reward Power: The opposite of coercive power is reward power. People comply with the wishes or directives of another because doing so produces positive benefits; therefore, one who can distribute rewards that others view as valuable will have power over those others. These rewards can be either financial - such as controlling pay rates, raises, and bonuses; or non-financial - including recognition, promotions, interesting work assignments, friendly colleagues, and preferred work shifts or sales territories.

c) Legitimate Power: In formal groups and organizations, probably the most frequent access to one or more of the power base is one's structural position. This is called legitimate power. It represents the formal authority to control and use organizational resources.

Position of authority include coercive and reward powers. Legitimate power, however, is broader than the power to coerce and reward. Specifically, it includes acceptance by members in an organization of the authority of a position.

d) Information Power: The fourth source of formal power - information power - comes from access to and control over information. People in an organization who have data or knowledge that others need can make those others dependent on them. Manager, for instance, because of their access to privileged sales, cost, salary, profit, and similar data, can use this information to control and shape subordinates' behavior.

B. Personal Power: It is not always mandatory to have a formal position in an organization to have power. Personal power comes from an individual's unique characteristic.

a) Expert Power: Expert power is influence wielded as a result of expertise, special skill, or knowledge. A subordinate obeys a supervisor possessing expert power because the boss ordinarily knows more about what is to be done or how it is to be done than does the subordinate. Expert power is relative not absolute. However the table may turn in case the subordinate has superior knowledge or skills than his/her boss.

b) Referent Power: Referent power is based on identification with a person who has desirable resources or personal traits. If somebody likes, respects, and admires someone, then that person can exercise power over him or her because he or she wants to please the person.

c) Charismatic Power: The final base of power is charisma. Charismatic power is really an extension of referred power stemming from an individual's personality and interpersonal style. Charismatic leaders get others to follow them because they can articulate attractive visions, take personal risks, demonstrate environmental and follower sensitivity, and are willing to engage in behavior that most others consider unconventional. But many organization will have people with charismatic qualities who, while not in formal leadership positions, nevertheless are able to exert influence over others because of the strength of their heroic qualities.