Workplace Power
There are a number of different types of power within the workplace, including those listed below. Understanding this could help you to understand how your organisation works, and how to get things done.
Types of Power
- Coercive Power is the power of people who are in a position to punish others. People fear the consequences of not doing what has been asked of them.
- Connection Power is the power of having friends in high places.
- Expert Power is the power that comes with having a unique or rare talent or skill.
- Informational Power is the power that comes from having to valuable or important information.
- Positional Power is the power that is legitimately given to you by the organisation. It is the power that is deatiled in your job description.
- Referent Power is the power you can gain by being well-liked and/or respected.
- Reward Power is the power to bestow rewards, both obvious rewards like renumeration and conditions, and subtle rewards like interesting tasks.