Sources of Power

Legitimate power is

• Power and control coming from how the team feel about the project manager

• Power that is given because a person is considered superior in knowledge of a particular subject

• Power from your position or title.

• None of the above

Answer explanation

Power from your position or title. It might be from: your position, known credibility, respected integrity, years of service, background and experience, role and responsibilities.

What is an example that would NOT give you referent power?

• friendship

• a title

• trust

• empathy

Answer explanation

Referent power coming from how the team feel about the project manager. Examples could include: friendship, admiration, trust, loyalty, empathy, respect.

Which is not an example of legitimate power?

• known credibility

• years of service

• your position

• admiration of a colleague

Answer explanation

Legitimate power is from your position or title. It might be from: your position, known credibility, respected integrity, years of service, background and experience, role and responsibilities.

Which of the following is coercive power?

• reprimand

• promotion

• admiration

• access to knowledge

Answer explanation

Coercive power is power and control achieved through punishment.

Which of the following is not part of the dark triad?

• Narcissism

• Machiavellianism

• Psychopathy

• Neuroticism

Answer explanation

Neuroticism refers to one’s dispositional tendency to experience “negative” emotions such as anxiety, panic, aggression, negativity. Neuroticism can be crucial to survival and in protecting ourselves.

What is Narcissism?

• Lack of empathy, and poor behavioural controls, commonly resulting in persistent antisocial deviance and criminal behaviour.

• Manipulativeness, callousness, and indifference to morality.

• Extreme self-involvement to the degree that it makes a person ignore the needs of those around them.

Answer explanation

Narcissism is extreme self-involvement to the degree that it makes a person ignore the needs of those around them.

What is a risk of legitimate power?

• It can be all image, no substance.

• Can restrict other team members from making decisions due to lack of knowledge.

• Can blur the roles between leader and follower.

• Can demoralise a team member and team as a whole.

Answer explanation

Risk: Legitimate power can be all image, no substance. The project manager may not actually have the competency as indicated by their position.

Legitimate power may have been given rather than earned.