Hello Aspirant,

The term authority is often used for power perceived as legitimate by the social structure. The use of power need not involve coercion, force or the threat of force. At one extreme, power closely resembles what English speakers call “influence”, although some authors make a distinction between the two.

There are many examples of power tactics that are quite common and employed everyday, but are not legitimate. Some of these tactics include bullying, collaboration, complaining, criticizing, demanding, disengaging, evading, humor, inspiring, manipulating, negotiating, socializing and supplicating.

Legitimate Power is a formal type of power derived from the position you hold in an organization. Subordinates comply because they believe in the legitimacy of your position. With Legitimate Power it is your position that gives you your power. The higher up the organizational hierarchy you go the more power you hold.

Examples of people with Legitimate Power include CEOs, presidents, and monarchs.

Legitimate Power is underpinned by rules and even laws. In the workplace, this means that failure to follow your boss’s directive can result in disciplinary action. In the case of a president, they have the legal backing of the law of the land to issue many directives.

Legitimate Power is a power which is given to you through your position, but it doesn’t make you a good leader. To be a good leader you must also have supplemental leadership skills. For example, skills such as transformational leadership or servant leadership.

Hope this helps you. Feel free to ask more questions.

Have a good day!!

Hi! Legitimate use of power is the power which one receives through his or her official position in an office of authority.  in is important in most crucial power relations , because then power can be exerted through voluntary or quasi-voluntary compliance  for eg: the president, a ceo etc.