A senior manager believes people follow him mainly because he controls promotions and bonuses. In a crisis, however, team members quietly follow a mid-level leader who has consistently supported them and admitted mistakes. Which explanation best fits

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Referent power arises when followers admire, identify with, or trust a leader, so they choose to follow voluntarily.

1. Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Bases of social power: positional (legitimate, reward, coercive) versus personal (expert, referent).
- Reward power (control of promotions/bonuses) is positional and depends on formal authority.
- Referent power depends on interpersonal bonds, trust, credibility, and perceived integrity.
- In crises, followers often prefer leaders they trust and who have demonstrated support and authenticity.

2. Step-by-step reasoning
- The senior manager’s influence is primarily reward power (controls promotions/bonuses). That creates compliance when incentives or sanctions are operative.
- The mid-level leader has repeatedly supported the team and admitted mistakes, behaviors that build trust, respect, and emotional identification—key elements of referent power.
- When a crisis occurs, the immediate need is assurance, reliability, and quick alignment. Reward power tied to formal systems is less salient; people seek leaders they trust to act in their interests.
- Because the mid-level leader has earned trust, team members follow quietly and voluntarily even though he lacks formal authority.

3. (No numerical calculations are required.)

4. Why the correct answer is correct
- “Referent power can outweigh positional power when trust is high” captures that personal influence based on trust and identification can be more effective than formal authority, especially under stress when followers value integrity and support over positional incentives.

5. Why the other options are incorrect
- “There is no link between trust and followership” is false: trust is a primary driver of voluntary followership.
- “Positional power always dominates in a crisis.” is false because positional levers may be slow or irrelevant; trust-based influence can be more persuasive.
- “Coercive power is the only factor in emergencies” is false and often counterproductive; coercion can provoke resistance and reduce cohesion.

6. Conclusion
The best explanation is that referent power can outweigh positional power when trust is high, which matches the provided correct answer.

A senior manager believes people follow him mainly because he controls promotions and bonuses. In a crisis, however, team members quietly follow a mid-level leader who has consistently supported them and admitted mistakes. Which explanation best fits单项选择题

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