Why Does Your Team Listen to You?

If you think it’s just because of your title, it’s time to dig deeper. Leadership isn’t just about giving orders—it’s about influencing and inspiring people to take action.

Understanding the types of power (power = ability to influence others) leaders use can transform how you lead and help you build a team that respects and trusts you, rather than one that only complies because they have to.

Here are the 5 Types of Leadership Power and how to use them effectively:

1️⃣ Coercive Power

This type of power relies on consequences to enforce rules. It’s most effective in situations where safety or compliance is critical. For example: "Breaking safety protocols could lead to disciplinary action or even termination."

Use Sparingly: Overusing coercive power can create fear and resentment, which erodes trust. Reserve it for situations where the stakes are high and non-negotiable.

2️⃣ Reward Power

People are motivated when they know their efforts will be recognized. Reward power is about offering incentives for good performance, such as bonuses, promotions, or even a simple “thank you.”

However, be cautious—if rewards become expected, they lose their impact. A great leader uses this power strategically to celebrate meaningful achievements.

3️⃣ Legitimate Power

This is the authority that comes with your role or position. Use it to give clear, decisive directions and to establish order. For instance: "Thanks for your input, team. Based on our discussion, we’ll move forward with Plan X."

💡 Pro Tip: Legitimate power works best when paired with open communication and collaboration. This type of power should also be used sparingly, as over reliance on legitimate power means not using other types of power that better empower your team or allow you to build trust and respect.

4️⃣ Expert Power

Nothing builds credibility like expertise. When your team knows you’re skilled and knowledgeable, they’ll naturally look to you for guidance. I leant into his type of power too much at the start of my leadership career, and it led to me working too many hours as it only increased my team's reliance on me.

Example: A leader with deep product knowledge might step in to troubleshoot a client issue.

❗ Caution: Be careful not to overuse expert power—it can discourage your team from taking initiative if they feel you always have the “right” answer. Over-reliance on expert power serves to make you the bottleneck of your team, and stifles their development.

5️⃣ Referent Power

This is the gold standard of leadership power. It’s about earning your team’s trust and respect by leading with integrity, empathy, and consistency.

When your team admires you, they’ll follow your lead—not because they have to, but because they want to.

🌟 How to Build It: Focus on relationship-building, demonstrating care, and showing up authentically every day.

What Kind of Leader Do You Want to Be?

It is not a matter of choosing a type of power and leading through that all day, but rather using each type of leadership power selectively in the right situations.

Take a moment to reflect: Which type of power do you rely on most? Is it time to shift your approach?