BeatriceGecijo

UNIV392
Prof.ScottHarris

Therearemainlyfivedifferenttypesofpowerinleadership,whicharedividedintotwo
majorcategoriesformalandpersonal.Thesetypesofpowerallvaryinstyleandeffectiveness,
butarenonethelessevidentinhowindividualsaffectothersandleadintheirdaytoday
activities.
Underformalpoweriscoercive,legitimateandrewardpowers,whileunderpersonal
powerisexpertandreferentpower.Coercivepowercanbeseenthroughtheperpetuationoffear
andthreatfromaleaderamongthosebeingled.Anexampleofthiswouldbehowsupervisors
cantakeawayonesjobfollowingpoorworkethics,orathreattoberemovedfromreceiving
benefitsunderspecialcircumstances.Ontheotherhand,legitimatepowerreferstotheauthority
giventosomeonewhoholdsarecognizedposition.Thistypeofpowerisderivedfromtheability
ofotherindividualstorecognizethathe/sheisofamoresuperiorpositionandthereforecan
effectivelyleadoverthem.Finally,rewardpowersrefertothegivingofbenefitstoindividuals
whohaveearnedsuch.Like,awardingpromotionsorraisestohardworkingindividualsor
allowingforbreaksafterverydifficulttasks.
Ontheotherhand,underpersonalpowerisexpertandreferentpower.Expertpoweris
characterizedbyonesknowledge,proficiencyandcompetenceintheirfield.Asindividuals
learnandgainexperiencesintheirchosencareers,theyarelikelytobemoreknowledgeable
versusanovice.Finally,referentpowerisderivedfromtherespectandtrustthatpeersand
colleaguesgivetowardsindividualswhotreatthemright,andfair.

Aspermypersonalexperiencesintwoofmymostsignificantactivities,Ithinkthat
expertpowerandlegitimatepoweraretheonesthatresonatemostwithme.Inmyfamilysnon
profitorganization,Iwasthepartoftheincorporatorsandstaff,whichallowedmetohave
legitimatepoweroverourvolunteers.Thispositiongavemethepowertoinstructotherpeople
anddelegatetaskstothem.Asidefromhavinglegitimatepower,Ialsopossessedexpertpower
becausedespitethefactthatIwasmuchyoungerthanmostvolunteers,Ihavebeeninvolved
withtheorganizationforamuchlongertimeperiodthantheyhave.Likewise,beingableto
watchcloselyasmyparentsruntheorganizationandtheactivitiesgavememorecredibilityto
leadthegroups.
Similarly,inmydaytodayadministrationofswimlessonsinmyjob,Idemonstrate
expertpowerbecauseofmyknowledge,skills,andexperienceinbothcompetitiveswimming
andcoaching.Likewise,becauseIamcertifiedtoteachlessons,Ialsohavelegitimatepower
overmystudentsandmyclients.
Asanorientationleader,Iholdalotofpowerovermystudentgroups,andeventhe
parentsthatcome!Ialsoholdexpertpowershavinggonethroughintensivetrainingand
legitimatepowerssincebeinganorientationleadermakesyouaLoyolaAmbassador,andputs
youinagoodleadershipposition.
Ithinkthatgoodleadersarecharacterizedbytheirabilitytoconnectwiththeirpeersand
colleaguesdespitepositionsthattheyhold,andatthesametimehavethecapacitytodemonstrate
theirknowledge,skillsandexpertiseintheirfields.Ihopetobecomealeaderwhoisrespected
bytheindividualsaroundmeformycredibilityandlegitimacy.