BCOM/230: Influencing Group Communication

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Influencing Group Communication Paper Sara Litko BCOM\230 March 11, 2013 Jhankhana Patel There are five bases of power and they are: Coercive Power, Reward Power, Legitimate Power, Expert Power and Referent Power. There are two general groups of power Formal and Personal. Formal Power Formal Power is based on the position of an individual in an organization. There are three types of formal powers: Coercive, Reward and Legitimate. * Coercive Power is dependent on fear. An individual will react to this power out of fear if they fail to comply that will result in negative responses. Those negative responses are: a demotion, suspension or even being terminated. Coercive Power can also come from someone withholding important…show more content…
Legitimate Power represents the authority to control and use the resources of the organization and is broader than the power to coerce or reward. This is by being accepted by members in an organization who are in the position of authority. When an authority figure speaks usually the employees listen and comply. Personal Power Personal Power is a power that comes from the unique characteristics of an individual. There are two types of Personal Power: Expert and Referent. * Expert Power is when an individual shows special skills, knowledge or expertise at their job. As the world becomes more technologically oriented the most powerful source of influence is expertise. Many people rely on experts to achieve their goals. When an expert gives their advice to someone that person usually follows that advice. * Referent Power is a person who is identified by their desirable resources and personal traits. When a person develops admiration for another they desire to be like that person. One way someone can achieve Referent Power is by having Charisma. If someone likes, respects or admires another it is because they are trying to please that person. Some people have referent power even though they are not in formal leadership because of their charisma, likeability and emotional effect on…show more content…
Management accepts employees that follow the rules and do their job the way that management says to. * Expert Power: Employees listen and follow managers that have knowledge and that are experts in their fields. This helps employees do their jobs efficiently and effectively. Also having a manager with these special skills will make an employee follow the advice that is given to them. * Referent Power: Many employees have tried to emulate a manager because they respect and admire that manager. The employees want to please that manager so they will do whatever the manager says. Conclusion In conclusion the five power bases are in any organization and group. This paper tells you the difference of each power and how they work at your job. This paper also tells you how to find out which power base is at your work. At my job there are two power bases Coercive and Reward that are used. Even though they are the opposites of each other, they are used all the time. We will get rewards for doing great work but if we start to go down then we are threated into doing great work the next

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