Which of the following is NOT one of the five bases of power?

• A. Coercive
• B. Reward
• C. Legitimate
• D. Transformational

Answer: (D)

This question tests whether you can distinguish between bases of power and a leadership approach. The five bases of power are coercive (punishment), reward (incentives), legitimate (authority from a position), expert (based on knowledge or skill), and referent (charisma or identification with the leader). Transformational describes a leadership style that aims to inspire and develop followers through vision and personal growth; it’s not a power source itself. It can be supported by using the existing bases (for example, leveraging expertise or referent influence), but it isn’t categorized as one of the five bases. So Transformational is not a base of power.