Power Perception Profile*

Directions

Distribute 3 points between each pair of the 21 pairs of statements below. Your allocation should be based upon the degree to which each statement explains the reason why others would do what you want them to do. Four allocations are possible: 3,0; 2, 1; 1,2, 0,3.
Be sure that the total points assigned to each pair equals three.

1	________A. They respect knowledge and experience.

    	________B. I have or can get information that is valuable to others.

2.	________C. They like me. 

  	________D. I have authority.

3. 	________E. I can reward those who cooperate

	________F. I am connected to important people in the organization.

4. 	________G. I can punish those who do not cooperate.

	________F. I am connected to important people in the organization.

5. 	_________E. I can reward those who cooperate

  	_________G. I can punish those who do not cooperate.

____________________________________________________________________________

•	Adapted from Power Perception Profile – Self. © 2009. Hersey, Paul and Natemeyer, Walter.
Center for Leadership Studies.

6. 	_________F. I am connected to important people in the organization.

   	_________A. They respect knowledge and experience

7.	_________B. I have or can get information that is valuable to others.

  	_________D. I have authority.

8. 	_________C. They like me.

  	 _________E. I can reward those who cooperate

9. 	_________G. I can punish those who do not cooperate.

  	 _________A. They respect knowledge and experience

10. 	_________F. I am connected to important people in the organization

     	_________B. I have or can get information that is valuable to others.

\

11. 	_________A. They respect knowledge and experience

     	_________D. I have authority.
 .

12. 	 _________I. I have or can get information that is valuable to others.

     	 _________G. I can punish those who do not cooperate.

13.   	__________D. I have authority.

      	__________F. I am connected to important people in the organization

14. 	 _________C. They like me.

     	 _________A. They respect knowledge and experience

\

15. 	 _________G. I can punish those who do not cooperate.

     	 _________D. I have authority.

16.  	__________F. I am connected to important people in the organization.

      	__________C. They like me.

17.   	__________A. They respect knowledge and experience

      	__________E. I can reward those who cooperate

18.  	__________B. I have or can get information that is valuable to others.

      	__________C. They like me.
19.   	__________D.  I have authority.

      	__________E. I can reward those who cooperate

20.   	 _________C. They like me.

       	_________ G.  I can punish those who do not cooperate.

21.    	__________B. I have or can get information that is valuable to others.

        	__________E. I can reward those who cooperate

Scoring: Refer to the 21 pairs.  Add the points you assigned to each of the A, B, C, D, E, F, and G choices.  Enter the sum in the boxes below.  Transfer the number onto the vertical scale above each box. Draw straight lines to connect the circled numbers to complete the profile.
	18	18	18	18	18	18	18		
	17	17	17	17	17	17	17		
	16	16	16	16	16	16	16		
	15	15	15	15	15	15	15		
	14	14	14	14	14	14	14		
	13	13	13	13	13	13	13		
	12	12	12	12	12	12	12		
	11	11	11	11	11	11	11		
	10	10	10	10	10	10	10		
	9	9	9	9	9	9	9		
	8	8	8	8	8	8	8		
	7	7	7	7	7	7	7		
	6	6	6	6	6	6	6		
	5	5	5	5	5	5	5		
	4	4	4	4	4	4	4		
	3	3	3	3	3	3	3		
	2	2	2	2	2	2	2		
	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		
	A
Expert	B Information	C
Referent	D
Legitimate	E
Reward	F
Connection	G
Coercive		
Totals	
+

________	
+

________	
+

________	
+

________	
+

________	
+

________	________	= 63	

The Power Bases

Organization Based
	Legitimate is represented by statement “D”
	Reward is represented by statement “E”
	Coercive is represented by statement “G”

Person Based
	Expert is represented by statement “A”
	Referent is represented by statement “C”

Mixed
	Connection is represented by statement “F”
	Information is represented by statement “B” 

Interpretation

The issue here is the relative use of the different bases of power, not the absolute use of a specific one. Focus on the ones that you use the most and the least. Remember that expert power and referent power are preferred as they show a fairly consistent relationship with satisfaction. The others, of course, may be available to you and employed when appropriate. Overuse of information, legitimate, reward, connection and coercive power can have dysfunctional effects. This is not surprising since followers have no choice in the matter. For expert and referent power, however, it is the followers who determine if you have this power and, consequently, these are viewed more favorably by those being influenced.