What is Legitimate Power?
Legitimate power is the authority given to individuals by virtue of their position in an organisation. It allows leaders to influence those who recognise and respect the leader as a legitimate source of authority.
For example a CEO has legitimate power to set the direction of the company and a team leader has the authority to allocate tasks in their team. This power is inherent in roles that require oversight, decision making and accountability.
Features of legitimate power
- From position: Authority is tied to a formal role or title.
- Institutional backing: Supported by organisational structures and policies.
- Recognised by subordinates: Relies on others accepting and acknowledging the authority.
In everyday life legitimate power shows up in positions like police officers enforcing laws, managers directing teams or elected officials creating policies.
Examples of Legitimate Power
Legitimate power is all around us. Here are a few real life examples:
- Corporate leadership: A project manager telling a team to meet deadlines relies on their legitimate power. Their authority to allocate resources and set expectations comes from their organisational role.
- Parenting: Parents have legitimate power in their home, guiding children and making decisions for their benefit.
- Government officials: Mayors or presidents use legitimate power to make policies and direct public resources.
These examples show legitimate power in action across industries and social contexts.
Benefits of Legitimate Power
When used well legitimate power offers:
1. Clear Lines of Authority
In organisational settings legitimate power provides a clear hierarchy so employees know their roles and responsibilities. This simplifies decision making and accountability.
2. Fast Decision Making
Leaders with legitimate power can make decisions without needing to get approval from every team member. Especially in time critical situations.
3. Natural Compliance
Subordinates will respect and follow a leader in a legitimate position of authority without needing constant persuasion or negotiation.
4. Reinforces Organisational Order
Legitimate power ensures policies, procedures and standards are upheld, for a stable and efficient work environment.
Drawbacks of Legitimate Power
But legitimate power isn’t without its problems:
1. Abuse of Power
Leaders who rely too heavily on their position might use their authority for personal gain or push unrealistic expectations on others.
2. Resentment
If legitimate power is used without empathy or compassion it can create frustration and defiance among team members and damage team cohesion.
3. Role Dependent
Once a leader leaves their role they lose their influence. This dependency makes legitimate power less sustainable than personal power like expertise or charisma.
4. Not Enough on its Own
Without combining legitimate power with other forms of power like expert power or referent power leaders may struggle to build trust and long term loyalty.
Legitimate Power vs Other Forms of Power
According to French and Raven’s five bases of power, legitimate power is just one of many tools leaders can use. Here’s how it compares:
- Coercive Power: Uses punishment to get compliance, unlike legitimate power which is authority driven.
- Expert Power: Comes from specialisation or skill, not a formal position.
- Referent Power: Comes from personal charisma and ability to attract admiration and loyalty.
- Reward Power: Uses incentives like promotions or bonuses to influence behaviour.
Legitimate power is formal and role based, combining it with personal power types makes a leader more effective.
Using Legitimate Power Ethically
Ethics are key to the balance between authority and trust. Leaders should:
- Put the team first: Make decisions for the organisation and the team, not just personal goals.
- Be inclusive: Involve others in decision making to create ownership and engagement.
- Be transparent: Clearly explain the reasons behind decisions to build trust and reduce resistance.
How to Develop and Use Legitimate Power
For corporate leaders looking to up their leadership game here are practical steps to increase legitimate power:
- Combine with other power forms: Use referent and expert power to earn respect and trust beyond your title.
- Build relationships: Get to know your team personally. Understand their needs and perspectives to increase your influence.
- Develop your leadership: Get coaching, attend workshops and training to hone your leadership skills and adapt to the changing workplace.
- Communicate Well: Clear, concise and empathetic communication so your instructions are understood and adopted by your team.
Legitimate Power in Leadership
Legitimate power is the foundation of leadership but its real power lies in how you use it. By balancing authority with empathy, ethics and personal growth you can lead with integrity and inspire trust. Chat with us today or explore our leadership programs to find out how we can help you build your power and influence as a leader.
