Reward Power is the ability to give rewards when others comply with your wishes. This may not work from one setting to the next. For example, an employee might laugh at a boss’s joke, but the boss’s neighbor might not.

Coercive Power is the opposite of Reward Power. It’s the ability to deliver punishments. While coercion can be effective in the short-term, it creates resentment and individuals will try to end the relationship.

This is where role models come into play. Referent Power is when somebody wants to be like you. They identify with you. You are their reference model. They find you attractive in some way and they model your behavior or thinking. Groups can also be a reference model and provide standards and norms of behavior, for example, social or peer pressure.

Legitimate Power is power that comes from a position or role. It’s positional authority. For example, you "should" or "ought" to listen to your parents, or your boss. The unique aspect of legitimate power is that it’s not about rational arguments — the power comes from the position or role. Also, the role can be more important than the individual. For example, presidents my come and go, but the role is always a powerful one.

"Knowledge is power." Expert Power is where expertise or knowledge is the source of power. This is where credentials, awards, and know-how play a role. You end up deferring to greater knowledge for the area of expertise, such as a doctor or mechanic. It’s limited to the area of expertise. For example, you won’t ask your doctor for advice on your car, just because they are a skilled physician.

Informational Power is the most transitory type of power. Once you give your information away, you give your power away. For example, you share the secret, your power is gone. It’s different from other forms of power because it’s grounded in what you know about the content of a specific situation. Other forms of power are independent of the content.