Leadership is the ability to influence a group toward the achievement of a vision or set of goals. So leader need some power and leader power is the ability to affect the behavior of others. The source of leader power are given below-
1. Personal power: Personal power also called charismatic power and power of personality, which comes from each leader individually. It is the ability of leaders to develop follower from the strength of their own personalities. They have a personal magnetism, their beliefs, confidence etc. which attract and hold the followers.
2. Expert power: Expert power is derived from information or expertise. The experts are seen to have knowledge or ability only in well-defined areas. It depends on education, training and experience. So expert power is an important power in our modern technological society.
3. Legitimate power: Legitimate power is power granted through the organizational hierarchy, it is the power defined by the organization to be united or accorded to people occupying a particular position. Legitimate power is also known as authority to exercise some special task. All managers have legitimate power over the organization.
4. Political power: Political power is the activity carried out by people to acquire, enhance and use power and other resource to obtain their desired outcomes. It refers to the behaviors that enhance or protect a person self- interest. It influences the distribution of advantages and disadvantages within the organization.
Others
• Reward power
• Coercive power
• Reverent power
• Formal power
Finally, from the above, it is clear that, to maintain and direct organization, leader need the above mentioned power. Without the leader power, organizational function may be hampered.
