Types of leadership power

All five types of leadership power (legitimate, reward, coercive, referent, and expert) are important in leadership, but expert power is the most important. Expert power is the ability to influence others based on one's knowledge, skills, and experience. It is the most sustainable type of power because it is based on merit, rather than on position or authority. Guidelines and disadvantages of each type of leadership power: Legitimate power:

• Guidelines: Legitimate power is the power that comes with a formal position of authority. Leaders with legitimate power have the right to make decisions and give orders, and their subordinates are expected to obey.
• Disadvantages: Legitimate power can be abused if leaders use it to exploit or coerce their subordinates. Legitimate power can also be ineffective if subordinates do not respect the leader or the organization.

Reward power:

• Guidelines: Reward power is the power to influence others by giving them rewards, such as promotions, raises, or praise.
• Disadvantages: Reward power can be ineffective if subordinates do not value the rewards that the leader is offering. Reward power can also lead to bribery and corruption.

Coercive power:

• Guidelines: Coercive power is the power to influence others by threatening them with punishment, such as demotion, termination, or physical harm.
• Disadvantages: Coercive power is a risky type of power to use because it can lead to resentment and rebellion among subordinates. Coercive power can also create a hostile work environment.

Referent power:

• Guidelines: Referent power is the power to influence others because they admire and respect the leader.
• Disadvantages: Referent power is based on personal relationships, so it can be difficult to build and maintain. Referent power can also be lost if the leader makes mistakes or behaves in a way that their subordinates do not respect.

Expert power:

• Guidelines: Expert power is the power to influence others based on one's knowledge, skills, and experience.
• Disadvantages: Expert power can be difficult to develop, and it can be lost if the leader does not stay up-to-date on their field. Expert power can also be ineffective if subordinates do not recognize the leader's expertise.

Are any of the above power types essential to leaders in criminal justice? All five types of leadership power are important for leaders in criminal justice. Criminal justice leaders need legitimate power to make decisions and give orders. They need reward power to motivate their subordinates. They need coercive power to deal with difficult situations. They need referent power to build trust and cooperation among their team members. And they need expert power to be effective in their jobs. How do the above power types match up with the “Big Five” personality types? The five types of leadership power can be matched up with the Big Five personality traits as follows: Legitimate power: Conscientiousness Reward power: Extraversion Coercive power: Neuroticism Referent power: Agreeableness Expert power: Openness to experience What is meant by “management by walking around”? Management by walking around (MBWA) is a management style in which managers spend time visiting their subordinates at their work stations. MBWA allows managers to observe their subordinates' work, identify problems, and provide feedback. It also allows managers to build relationships with their subordinates and show that they are interested in their work. Benefits of management by walking around:

• Improved communication and relationships between managers and subordinates
• Increased employee morale and motivation
• Better identification and resolution of problems
• Enhanced creativity and innovation
• Improved understanding of the organization's processes and operations

Drawbacks of management by walking around:

• Can be time-consuming for managers
• Can be disruptive to employees' work
• Can be seen as micromanagement if not done carefully

Conclusion All five types of leadership power are important for leaders in criminal justice. However, expert power is the most important because it is based on merit and is sustainable. Management by walking around is a valuable management style that can help leaders to improve communication, relationships, motivation, and problem-solving.  

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