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Cadets follow orders because the person holds the commander's job. Which type of power is this?

Legitimate power, power from the position.

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  1. Referent power
  2. Legitimate power ✔
  3. Expert power

Why: Legitimate power comes from a person's position. People obey because the role itself carries authority. It is a position power, along with reward power and coercive power.

Huh, didn't know that: Position power stays with the job: when the commander changes, the new one gets it.

The dad joke
Why did the commander's chair feel so important? It had a lot of seat authority.
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References

Answer: Legitimate power. Legitimate power comes from a person's position. People obey because the role itself carries authority. It is a position power, along with reward power and coercive power.

  1. Learn to Lead, Volume 2, Chapter 7 (Civil Air Patrol) www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/Vol2LetterLowFinal_8BDFDB373E830.pdf
    legitimate power, in which others obey leaders because of the legitimacy of the position of the leader
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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