Influencing Group Communication

INFLUENCING GROUP COMMUNICATION

The five bases of power are:

1. Coercive Power

2. Reward Power

3. Legitimate Power

4. Referent Power

5. Expert Power

Coercive power is the power that tries to force someone to do something. Coercive power uses this force to make sure there is a certain outcome. It can be threatening to fire someone or demote someone to a lower position if he or she does not do what he or she is told to do. This type of power is usually personal. The person who is doing the forcing is the one who will benefit from the result.

Reward power is the power based on the idea that we as a society are more prone to do things and to do them well when we can receive something for what is done (Molm, 1988). The problem with this according to Mindtools.com is that "when you use up available rewards, or the rewards don't have enough perceived value to others, your power weakens. (One of the frustrations with using rewards is that they often need to be bigger each time if they're to have the same motivational impact. Even then, if rewards are given frequently, people can become satisfied by the reward, such that it loses its effectiveness.)" This power can be used either formal or personal depending on what the reward consists of (Wikipedia, 2009).

Legitimate power deals with rewards and punishment (Hinkin & Schriesheim, 1989). "Rewarding and Punishing subordinates is generally seen as a legitimate part of the formal or appointed leadership role and most managerial positions in work organizations carry with them, some degree of expected reward and punishment." This power can only be upheld when the position or title is there. When it is lost so is the power.

Referent power is strong enough that the power-holder is often looked up to as a role model (Raven, 1988). This power is often looked at as admiration, or...