In organizations people lead using different styles or models of leadership.These styles or models include but are not limited to :
1.Transactional leadership style – A leader rewards good behaviour and punish bad behaviour .
2.Charismatic leadership style – A leader uses their natural talents or abilities to lead others .People like the leader’s personality .
3.Democratic leadership style – The leader uses consensus .He/ she make consultations before making a decision .
4.Laissez-Faire – The leader does not supervise his/her subordinates.Instead the people work on their own as though there is no leader .
As stated earlier on in this article ,the above styles are just examples of leadership models .
Within an organization leaders use different sources of power to lead.The following are different sources of power in organizations:
1 Expert power .
This is derived from one’s expertise .People follow you because of your outstanding skills an example is a Surgeon or a scientist.
2.Referent power
A leader leads people because he or she comments on something and people listen .Most celebrities use referent power to recommend services or goods.
3.Coercive power .
A leader uses punishments or even threats to lead people.
4.Reward power
A leader rewards people and so they follow him or her .
5.Informational power
A leader leads using information
6.Legitimate power.
A leader uses their position to lead people .This power is dependent on position eg a police officer giving orders to prisoners .
Some schools of thought have additional sources of power people use to lead.
The writer would like to add the following sources :
1 Age power
Someone leads because of their age or maturity .
2.Gender power
Someone leads because of their gender role .
3.Social status power
Someone leads because of their wealth or influence in a community .
4.Connections power
Someone leads because they are connected to influential and powerful figures in a community .(Chaka 2023)
Each of the above sources of power has its own merits and demerits .
Maturity and wisdom is being able to know which source to use and when .
The writer Professor Elias Chakabwata is the Executive President of Impact Training Institute.He is an organizational growth consultant and leadership guru.He can be contacted on 0732288687.
