If someone thinks you lack power they won't give it to you. It is what people perceive that is the only thing that influences them. All effective leaders are clearly seen as powerful people. They are seen as having the ability to influence others. They earn their power through the way they act and the things they talk about.
All leaders earn their power day to day.
The capacity a leader has to influence comes from a variety of sources. The two principle bases are what is perceived about the position one holds and what is perceived about the person. No source of power is purely positional or purely personal. It is a matter of how much of the influence potential is due to the position and how much is due to the person. Legitimate power is the closest type of power based solely on your position.