Coercive power is defined by the leader's ability to:

Coercive power is defined by the leader's ability to:

• A. Has the ability to punish others
• B. Is based on a person's attraction to or desire to be like the holder of power
• C. Has the ability to reward others
• D. Is derived from formal position only

Answer: (A)

Coercive power is defined by the leader's ability to punish others. This means the leader can impose negative consequences—such as penalties, demotion, loss of privileges, or termination—to influence behavior. People comply mainly to avoid punishment, so this form of influence can be effective in the short term but often at the cost of morale and trust. It’s different from reward power (influence through giving rewards) and referent power (influence based on admiration or desire to be like the leader), and it’s not simply about formal position, since the core idea is the capacity to punish rather than the title held.

Coercive power is defined by the leader's ability to punish others. This means the leader can impose negative consequences—such as penalties, demotion, loss of privileges, or termination—to influence behavior. People comply mainly to avoid punishment, so this form of influence can be effective in the short term but often at the cost of morale and trust. It’s different from reward power (influence through giving rewards) and referent power (influence based on admiration or desire to be like the leader), and it’s not simply about formal position, since the core idea is the capacity to punish rather than the title held.