Legitimate power is the formal authority given to a person within an organization. Because it comes from a position or job title, legitimate power is a form of positional power. In any efficient system, there are different levels of power.
What is legitimate power and why is it important?
This creates a sense of order and adds structure to the working environment. Legitimate power is based on a person holding a particular position of authority within an organization. This gives them power over others and lets them make decisions within the broader system.
What is an example of legitimate authority?
Legitimacy depends on context. For example, in a ball game, the power and authority of the rules and referees are legitimate, while the power of the audience to injuriously mob one of the teams is illegitimate.
Is legitimate power alone enough?
Legitimate power alone is only as effective as the position in the hierarchy allows, and even that power will have its limitations based upon the overarching rules or laws of the organization. Because of these limitations, a person must complement legitimate power with additional characteristics such as:
What is an example of legitimate power in leadership?
Regardless of your level in the hierarchy, you exercise this power when you tell your subordinate to perform a task. Examples of people with Legitimate Power include CEOs, presidents, and monarchs. In the above diagram, the top-level leader (Level 1) has authority over all people underneath them –...
What is an example of legitimate power?
Legitimate power comes from a role a person plays. In the workplace, a supervisor may possess legitimate power due to the authority of their position. Other examples of titles with legitimate power are a police chief, president or CFO.
What is legitimate and I legitimate power?
Legitimate power is a formal authority that a person has over subordinates within an organization. A person with legitimate authority receives recognition because of their job title or assigned position.
What type of power is legitimate?
Understanding Power Legitimate – This comes from the belief that a person has the formal right to make demands, and to expect others to be compliant and obedient. Reward – This results from one person's ability to compensate another for compliance.
How do you find legitimate powers?
Legitimate power comes from having a position of power in an organization, such as being the boss or a key member of a leadership team. This power comes when employees in the organization recognize the authority of the individual.
What is legitimate power in government?
Thus, legitimate power is defined by formal and informal rules established by a rightfully elected government (power of position), and by their knowledge about skillful procedures (power of expertise).
What is legitimacy and examples?
Legitimacy is defined as the lawfulness or authenticity of something, or refers to the status of a child being born to married parents. When you question whether something is lawful or permitted, this is an example of questioning the legitimacy of the action.
What are the three types of legitimate authority?
Power refers to the ability to have one's will carried out despite the resistance of others. According to Max Weber, the three types of legitimate authority are traditional, rational-legal, and charismatic.
What are the 4 types of power?
Questioning Four Types of PowerExpert: power derived from knowledge or skill.Referent: power derived from a sense of identification others feel toward you.Reward: power derived from an ability to reward others.Coercive: power derived from fear of punishment by others.More items...
What are the 7 types of power?
7 Types of Power in LeadershipPowerful leaders are usually extremely persuasive. In general, power is connected to credibility and influence. ... Legitimate Power. ... Coercive Power. ... Expert Power. ... Informational Power. ... Power of Reward. ... Connection Power. ... Referent Power.
What is legitimate power essay?
Legitimate Power is a person's role in the organization and can be thought of as one's formal authority(Raven, 1992). “ A person holds legitimate power if other accept his or her authority to tell them what to do”(Rainey, 2014) p.177.
What is another term for illegitimate power?
coercion. power that people do not accept as rightly exercised over them; also called illegitimate power.
What is the difference between legitimate and illegitimate power?
Authority: The type of power acknowledged by the people over whom it is exercised-- i.e. the "consent of the governed." Max Weber developed this concept. He regarded authority as LEGITIMATE POWER. ILLEGITIMATE POWER, on the other hand, is that which the people refuse to acknowledge as having a right over them.
What is meant by legitimate power quizlet?
Legitimate Power. This is when a person in an organization is allowed to require certain behavior from their subordinates because of the official position that they hold.
What are the three types of legitimate authority?
Power refers to the ability to have one's will carried out despite the resistance of others. According to Max Weber, the three types of legitimate authority are traditional, rational-legal, and charismatic.
What is the difference between legitimate and coercive power in small groups?
Coercive power is defined as “harsh” power, as the capacity to detect and sanction unlawful behavior (Raven et al., 1998; Turner, 2005). Legitimate power is defined as “soft” power and refers to the power of position, expertise, dissemination of relevant information, and identification (Raven et al., 1998, cf.
How is legitimate authority derived?
Legitimate power is derived by way of the manager's office and the organizational laws and rules that define the scope of the office's power. While legitimate authority may be a necessary component for effective leadership, it may not be a sufficient component. A wise leader will attempt to develop other bases of leadership power ...
What is legitimacy in leadership?
Legitimacy in leadership is one of the most important concepts in leadership and management. In this lesson, you will learn what legitimate power is. You'll also see an example of how an effective leader can augment legitimate authority. Create an account.
What is the power of the president of a corporation?
He derives his power from the office he holds, but it is the corporation's bylaws that outline and limit the president's duties, obligations , and authority along with any specific directives given to him by the board of directors. The power of the office is usually not arbitrary and undefined, and the leader is regulated and controlled by organizational rules. This adds to the leader's legitimate authority.
Why does the President of a Corporation have certain powers?
For example, the president of a corporation has certain powers because of the office he holds in the corporation. Like most power, legitimate power is based upon perception and reality. It is based on the reality that a person holds a particular position in an organization. It's also based on the perception of an employee that someone holding ...
Is legitimate power a disadvantage?
Legitimate power is not without a disadvantage. While legitimate power can help ensure employee compliance with a manager's orders, it does not necessarily provide a basis for employee loyalty to either the manager or the corporation.
What are some examples of legitimate power?
Examples of people with Legitimate Power include CEOs, presidents, and monarchs. In the above diagram, the top-level leader (Level 1) has authority over all people underneath them – the entire organization. Each of the leaders at the next level (Level 2) has authority over three separate people each. Finally, those at the bottom of the organization ...
How can legitimate power be abused?
Legitimate power can be abused in a number of ways, including: When someone with legitimate power tries to exercise that power over someone they do not have formal power over. When a boss forces a team member to comply without regard to the relationship. When the leader’s performance is substandard.
When power means the leader doesn’t allow anyone to disagree with their opinion?
When power means the leader doesn’t allow anyone to disagree with their opinion. This leads to a type of myopia where only one view is permitted.
Is legitimate power a good leader?
However, there are many factors in play that can make this relationship fair (see Equity Theory to learn more about this dynamic). Legitimate Power is a power which is given to you through your position, but it doesn’t make you a good leader. To be a good leader you must also have supplemental leadership skills.
Who identified the 5 types of power?
Legitimate Power is one of the 5 Types of Power identified by psychologists John R. P. French and Bertram Raven in 1959.
Is it normal to have one person hold authority over another?
Cultural norms: In many cultures, it is seen as normal to have one person hold authority over another through their position .
Can people with legitimate power be bad leaders?
For example, skills such as transformational leadership or servant leadership. Thus, people with Legitimate Power can still be bad leaders. This situation arises all the time. Imagine you have a new boss but you don’t respect them because of their poor skills and style.
What is legitimate power?
Legitimate power is the formal authority given to a person within an organization. Because it comes from a position or job title, legitimate power is a form of positional power.
How can legitimate power be misused?
There are many ways for legitimate power to be misused. One of them occurs when an inexperienced or under-qualified person accepts the position.
Why is it normal for direct reports to treat authoritative figures with unquestionable respect?
In most work environments, it is considered normal for direct reports to treat authoritative figures with unquestionable respect. This helps to maintain order.
What happens when power is chased for personal gain?
When power is chased purely for personal gain, the person chasing it can easily get lost in selfish whims and desires. People in positions of authority might lose sight of the greater good. Instead, they end up placing their focus on egotistical pursuits.
Why do people have an instinctive sense of resentment or mistrust toward authoritative figures?
Not everyone who has power uses it well. This is why so many people have formed an instinctive sense of resentment or mistrust toward authoritative figures.
What is toxic leadership?
The toxic leadership trait of arrogance sometimes accompanies power. If you find yourself in a position of legitimate power management, it will require some effort to remain open to other people’s opinions and wishes.
What does it mean when a leader does not listen to others?
A leader who does not listen to others will only be resented over time.
What is legitimate power?
In cases of legitimate power, we change our actions or beliefs because we believe the other person has legitimate authority over us.¹ This authority is based on the position or status of the person. Airport security guards get to tell us what to do in the airport precisely because they’re airport security guards.
What is hard power?
Hard Power3 – Power enforced by explicit laws and regulations, such as the laws of a state.
What is the power typology of French and Raven?
However, French & Raven’s power typology was unique in that it explored power (including legitimate power) as it manifests throughout society—not just at the level of the state.
What is the power interaction model?
The theory was later expanded by Raven in 1992. 4 He proposed the “Power/Interaction Model of Interpersonal Influence ’. Essentially, the model explores how an agent’s motivations and goals influence the power base they employ. For example, an art gallery director who wants to be liked by others might sometimes avoid using their legitimate power, in order to avoid being perceived negatively. In contrast, an overly goal-driven agent might extensively lean on legitimate power, disregarding the effect it might have on their personal relationships.
Why is understanding power important?
Understanding power is important, not just for understanding how society works, but how leaders who hold legitimate power can improve.
What is an agent?
Agent – an individual or organization capable of self-directed behavior. Power is exerted by agents over other agents, causing the affected to think or act in a non-self-directed way.
Can legitimate power lead to bad outcomes?
These are, of course, extreme examples. But legitimate power can also lead to bad outcomes in everyday contexts. This usually occurs when an individual is given a position of legitimate power without having the necessary skills or experience to back it up. Consider a restaurant manager who is not up to the task. Because they exercise legitimate power in their restaurant, other employees have to follow their orders. This might result in poor service delivery, as well frustration —and reduced performance—among team members.
