7 Types of Power in the Workplace

• Coercive power associated with 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 based upon who you know.  This person knows, and has the ear of, other powerful people within the organization.

• Expert power comes from a person’s expertise.  This is commonly a person with an acclaimed skill or accomplishment.

• A person who has access to valuable or important information possesses informational power.

• Legitimate power, comes from the position a person holds.  This is related to a person’s title and job responsibilities.  You might also hear this referred to as positional power.

• People who are well-liked and respected can have referent power.

• Reward power is based upon a person’s ability to bestow rewards.  Those rewards might come in the form of job assignments, schedules, pay or benefits.

Fuente: HR Bartender:   http://www.hrbartender.com/2010/training/7-types-of-power-in-the-workplace/