REFERENT LEADERSHIP

P R E S E N T E D B Y F A B I E N N E O U A P O U - L E N A

I P H S 5 1 1

U I C , S U M M E R 2 0 1 2

REFERENT LEADERSHIP

DIMENSIONS OF LEADERSHIP

Style (authoritarian, democratic, laisser-faire).

Five bases of power were identified by French and Raven in 1960: coercive, legitimate, reward, referent, expert.

Source: http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Int-Loc/Leadership-Styles-and-Bases-of-Power.html#ixzz203naLa1T

POWER VS. LEADERSHIP

Power is related to, but different from, leadership.

Power is defined as the potential or capacityto influence others; that is, to affect others’ beliefs, attitudes, and behavior.

Carnegie, D. (1981). How to Win Friends & Influence People. New York: Pocket Books.

WHY POWER?MYTHS REALITIESPower is goal Power is a means to

accomplish a goalPower is bad Power is neutralPowerful people are ruthless

Powerless people are ruthless

It is wrong to desire more power

Acquisition of power to achieve goals reduces stress and frustration

  Power must be earned or assumed

Adapted from UNC

THE 5 TYPES OF POWER

POWERS AND DETERMINANTS

IMPORTANCE OFREFERENT POWER

• Coercive power relies on the fact that people fear you.• Reward power is only effective so long as people value the

rewards you have to offer.• Legitimate power relies on your rank in the company

hierarchy, and that can change quickly for any level of management.

• Expert power lasts as long as no one else knows as much as you do.

• Referent power is the only source that seems maintainable. Paul Argenti, 2002

WHAT IS REFERENT POWER ?

Referent power refers to the ability of a leader to influence a follower because of the follower's loyalty, respect, friendship, admiration, affection, or a desire to gain approval.

French, J., & Raven, B. The bases of social power. Studies in social power (1959).

WHAT IS REFERENT POWER?Referent power derives from employees' respect for a

manager and their desire to identify with or emulate him or her. In referent power, the manager leads by example.

Referent power rests heavily on trust.

In referent power [followers] use what they presume [the leader] would do in a given situation as a point of reference.

David A. Victor

WHAT IS REFERENT POWER?

Referent power is the power that arises because of a person’s desirable resources or personal traits.

Robbins & Coulter (2008) Management, 10th edition

HOW DOES REFERENT LEADERSHIP WORK?The most common follower response to referent

power is commitment.

Commitment means that workers share the leader's point of view and enthusiastically carry out instructions.

Commitment helps followers overcome fear of change, and it is especially important in situations of frequent changes.

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/Leadership-Defined.topicArticleId-8944,articleId-8913.html

EMPOWERMENT ANDREFERENT LEADERSHIP

The concept of empowerment in large part rests on referent power.

David A. Victor

Empowerment is insuring [individuals and families] closest to a problem or need have the authority to make judgments on how the problem is solved or the need met.

Chip R. Bell and Bilijack R. Bell (2003) Magnetic Service: Secrets for Creating Passionately Devoted Customers

REFERENT POWER AND CULTUREReferent power requires understanding

the cultural ways in which employees identify with their superiors.

REFERENT POWER AND CULTURE

In the USA, identification with one's superior in the United States is hampered by symbols of legitimate power (for example, titles or dress).

Those who advocate referent leadership encourage managers to use terms such as "facilitator" and "coach" coupled with "associates" and "group members" rather than "boss" and "subordinates."David A. Victor

REFERENT POWER AND CULTURE

Power distance is the degree to which members of a culture feel comfortable with inequalities in power within an organization; that is, the extent to which one's boss is seen as having greater power than oneself.

http://www.geert-hofstede.com

REFERENT LEADERSHIPWorks best with democratic leadership style,

although authoritarian and laisser-faire may apply as well.

REFERENT LEADER

CHARACTERISTICS OF AREFERENT LEADER

Referent power is gained by a leader who has strong interpersonal relationship skills.

Ways for a leader to acquire and maintain referent power:Show acceptance and positive regard.Act supportively and helpful.Use sincere forms of ingratiation.Defend and back up people when appropriate.Do unsolicited favors.Make self-sacrifices to show concern.Keep promises. Gary A. Yukl (2002) Leadership in Organizations

ALIGNING VALUES WITH POWER BASE

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:12 (NIV)

…as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

1 Peter 5:2-3 (NIV).

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONSReferent power may take considerable time to develop and thus

may not prove particularly effective in a workforce with a rapid turnover of personnel.

Those with referent power can also use it for coercion.

One thing people fear most is social exclusion, and all it takes isa word from a social leader to cause a widespread shunning by

others in a group.

Referent power in itself is not enough. When combined with expertise, it will likely have lasting effects.

www.mindtools.com. "French and Raven's Five Forms of Power".

REFERENT LEADERSHIP!!

“I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.”

Mother Teresa

EXAMPLES OF REFERENT LEADERSB……M.….T…..

A……. J….

QUESTIONS?