What type of power is referent power?
You have undoubtedly heard of those super-leaders who have this magic power of inspiring their teams in the most challenging projects. Their words can drive their employees onward, even when things aren’t going all that smoothly—the staff look at them with love and adoration. Fellow C-levelers are in awe. Show
But how to become one of those leaders? The answer is simple — develop your inherent referent power. Referent power is the type of power that can dramatically change your business and make your team work better. All you need is to reconsider your leadership style and include referent power into your self-improvement schedule. In this article, you’ll uncover: ✅ What is referent power? When it comes to power in the workplace, a lot of people associate it with formal ranking and obedience. However, John R. P. French and Bertram Raven conducted a survey in 1959 and identified 5 bases of power, aka where power comes from. These are:
By defining these bases, French and Raven reveal that “power” is far more than a chain of command. So, then, what is referent power, and how does it work? In the corporate world, the referent power definition boils down to this:
This definition of referent power derives from the idea of soft power. It relies on trust and democracy where a leader influences their followers (or in the workplace subordinates) through admiration and respect. This is recognized by followers. Referent power is never a formal type of power as it relies on the personal qualities of the leader. The followers admire these qualities and see the leader as a role model. They look up to him or her. In many situations, they consider what the leader would do in this case. This type of power works great for those business owners and entrepreneurs who want to build strong collaborative relationships with their colleagues. The referent leadership helps to create an enabling environment at work and boost employees’ morale so that they feel like wanting to do their jobs instead of treating it as an obligation. For a quick overview of referent power as one of the types of power, and why it’s key to professional communication, take a look at this video below: What makes referent power so effective in leadership?Referent power is an effective thing for creating a positive atmosphere and improving employees’ working style. But how does it work in practice? Here are 5 reasons why you should use a referent power in your leadership style:
Referent power examplesIt might seem surprising, but we quite often run into examples of referent power. The main source of referent power is the world of fame and popularity. For instance, Dwayne Johnson, also known as The Rock, inspires his fans to work on themselves – whether in the ring, on film, or simply by being himself. “Example, whether it be good or bad, has a powerful influence.” George Washington The business world is also full of referent power examples. Elon Musk is a person lots of people admire and many more look up to. All of his followers are proud to work with him and share their interests in technology and Mars travels. His leadership style inspires and pushes his team to make new creations. Another great example is Bill Gates, a software developer and philanthropist who encourages people to launch the most outrageous startups or donate money to charity. And as we all know, his Microsoft corporation has been a game-changer in the world of computing. Referent power in the workplaceBelow are some examples of how referent power works in practice. ✔️ As a leader you fulfill your promisesWhy this works: By showing yourself as reliable, you create a stable work environment where your team knows that what you say will happen, will happen. Whether this following up on a task, project, or even an employee review. ✔️ As a leader you lead by exampleWhy this works: It’s one thing to say to do something. It’s another to actually do it. If you want your team to adopt certain habits or practices, you need to do them yourself. For example, this may be participating in team building. ✔️ As a leader you are open to new ideasWhy this works: Think you always have the best ideas? Think again. Being open to what your team tells you is one of the best ways to advance. After all, you can’t think of everything. How to harness referent leadership power?So, how to be an effective leader and utilize referent power? The good news is that you can build it in yourself. Here are some useful tips that help you to lead your employees with referent power. Keep your promises 💪There is nothing more off-putting than unfulfilled promises. If you say that you’ll take care of something or have a look into a problem, don’t put it in a drawer till better times. Promptly addressing your employees’ problems and getting really involved in helping to solve them is a sure way to gain respect. On the other hand, this can have a detrimental effect when your employees start referring to you even with minor issues. To avoid this, you should learn how to evaluate the occurring problems quickly and consider them well before saying your ‘yes.’
Follow the rules you set 👆Great leaders not only know what is right to do for others but also follow the formulated rules. If you want to boost your employees’ productivity by banning the use of social networking sites, then don’t use them at work either. Put yourself in an equal position with your workers and lead them by example. Remember that if your employees are not ready to do something, they are very likely not to. Therefore, it’s essential to set rules and discuss with your staff why it’s important. Moreover, if you deprive your employees of Facebook during working hours, there are always some more effective ways of how to organize their breaks and enhance productivity.
Complimenting never hurts 🗣When your team finishes a project successfully or finds a smart way to resolve a long-pending issue, it’s vital that you recognize and celebrate the success with them. Why? If your employees feel unappreciated, they may end up resigning in the long term. A recent 200,000 person study shows that 79% of employees tend to quit due to a lack of appreciation of what they do. Therefore, besides constantly highlighting areas of improvement for your staff, mark their achievements as well. You can do it by evaluating their work in a positive spirit or just throwing a thank-you party after a hard day.
Get to know your employees 🤝Referent power is about being sincerely interested in your employees. This means getting to know your employees and caring about what makes them tick. A little small talk about their weekend or family can go a long way to forging a deeper relationship that will inspire your team to work harder. That way, they’ll be more likely to tell you when they are experiencing issues that may affect their work so that you can solve them together.
Involve active listening 👂Practicing active listening will help you build strong referent power. Though it might seem easy, in reality, to listen and comprehend what your employees are really trying to say is a great skill. It’ll help you to better understand what issues your staff is dealing with in their work and what they need to successfully fulfill their tasks. For this, you need to:
Fight for your employees 🙌The main quality of a mature leader is the ability to bear responsibility for the mistakes of their employees. You should be ready to stand up for your workers in conflict situations instead of shifting the blame on them in front of your customers. After all, you’re responsible for each employee you hire. You will always have some time later to consider the issues that lead to a particular problem and create a plan on how to improve the situation. This attitude requires a sensible approach and shows you as a wise leader in the eyes of your colleagues.
Keep an open mind 🧠Leaders with referent power realize that they can’t be professionals in every field. They are ready to follow their employees’ expert advice and admit that it if their ideas appear to be not as great as expected. Discussing your views and opinions with your employees is the most important contribution you can make to your business development. Brainstorm your employees and decide which suggestions you want to put into effect. It’ll prove that you’re ready to hear your staff’s ideas and encourage them to come up with the best ones.
Referent power wrap upBecoming a role model for your employees requires lots of hard work though it pays off well in the long term. Here we recap what you need to do to become a more respected and trusted leader:
We, at Everhour, hope that you’ve learned how to become an effective leader, and now you’ll inspire your teams for even more productive work and achievements! All-in-one time management system for your teamFeatured image: IndustryWeek What are the 4 types of power?Questioning Four Types of Power. Expert: 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.. What are the types of power?7 Types of Power in Leadership. Power in leadership helps teams reach greater levels of performance. ... . Legitimate Power. ... . Coercive Power. ... . Expert Power. ... . Informational Power. ... . Power of Reward. ... . Connection Power. ... . Referent Power.. What are the 3 types of power?Power has been an important aspect of human civilization since time immemorial. Power might be physical, political or social.
How is referent power defined?Referent power is defined by trust. By its very nature, it is not something the leader can command of others, but rather something the leader earns on a case-by-case basis over time. It is, without question, the most important source of influence potential a leader can have—and the most volatile.
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