A supervisor threatens to fire an employee for missing a deadline. This exemplifies which type of power?

• A. Legitimate power
• B. Coercive power
• C. Referent power
• D. Expert power

Answer: (B)

Threatening to fire someone for missing a deadline shows coercive power in action. This type of power comes from the ability to punish or sanction others to influence their behavior. When a supervisor uses the threat of termination, the leverage rests on the fear of a negative outcome, not on the worker’s knowledge or personal respect. It’s different from legitimate power, which is rooted in the formal role and authority to direct work; it’s also not about being admired or trusted (referent power) or about specialized expertise (expert power). Coercive power can be effective for quick compliance, but it can also hurt morale and trust if used too often.