Referent power is considered the most potent because it doesn’t require that a leader micromanage, use coercion, or reward to influence others. People follow a leader with referent power based on who ...

In 1959, social psychologists John French and Bertram Raven studied power, classifying five kinds: legitimate, reward, coercive, expert and referent. These power bases still figure prominently in ...

Rosalind Hudnell hosted a MAKERS MasterClass on how we can find our sources of power to navigate changes in society and the workplace. She began by reflecting on today’s social landscape, offering ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Mark Murphy covers leadership, hiring and employee engagement. There are lots of ways to leverage and gain power in an ...

I’ve often mused that my mom’s chiding question will be the title of the first leadership book I publish. After all, her blunt but good-natured words were very effective in reminding these young ears ...

I did not have leadership potential. So I decided to become a thought leader. Let me give you an example: For several years, I was responsible for ensuring that university professors —none of whom ...

Power is sweet. From the dawn of time, power is highly sought after. Power can be referred to as the level of influence an individual holds over another. Many dream of it and fight for it tooth and ...

Power. Some leaders crave it. Some managers utilise it sparingly. But the issue of who holds power over one another permeates all aspects of human society. From the time you are born, your parents ...

Dear Dr. Wes and Jenny: My teenage daughter has been “dating” someone for over a year. It concerns me that at the age of 15 she is with someone for that length of time, but the fact that he does not ...

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” —paraphrased quote from Mahatma Gandhi Where does a leader’s power come from? In their landmark 1959 report often referenced in leadership theory, social ...