Legitimate power, the third type, resides in a person's position rather than the actual person himself or herself. This type of formal power relies on position in an authority hierarchy . Occasionally, people with legitimate power fail to recognize they have it, and then they may begin to notice others going around them to accomplish their goals. The fourth type, expert power, relies on a person's special knowledge and expertise in a given area. Anyone can have it if he or she formally and informally prepares sufficiently.
Referent power acts a little like role model power.
It depends on respecting, liking, and holding another individual in high esteem . It usually develops over a long period of time. Expert and referent power bases correlated with both compliance and satisfaction. Effective leaders combine the various bases and sources of power, electing to use them in appropriate situations. An effective leader rarely depends on only one source or base of power.