John French and Bertram Raven identified five sources or bases of power.

• Reward power is based on one person having the ability to reward another person for carrying out orders or meeting other requirements.
• Coercive power is based on one person's ability to punish another for not meeting requirements, is the negative side of reward power.
• Expert power is based on the perception or belief that a person has some relevant expertise or special knowledge that others do not.
• Referent power is based on one person's desire to identify with or imitate another.
• Legitimate power is the power derived from being in a position of authority within the organisational structure/according to the position they hold within the organisation.