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Saving Private Ryan - Captain Miller Displays the Five Types of Power

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Saving Private Ryan - Captain Miller Displays the Five Types of Power

Many people in this world have power and influence. Yet, there are few who have the traits needed to be an incredible leader. These people who are positive leaders tend to leave strong impressions in our minds for years or maybe even a lifetime. In choosing a movie with a character that portrayed a strong sense of power and influence, and possessed the traits of a good leader, I remembered a character that left an admirable impression in my mind. Saving Private Ryan is a perfect example of a movie with all of the elements of powerful and influential leaders. Specifically, Tom Hanks who plays Captain John Miller is a strong willed individual with a …show more content…

Examples of coercive power would be dismissal, docking of pay, reprimands, and unpleasant work assignments. Sometimes these types of punishments are stated in organizations main beliefs.
Captain Miller used this type of power whenever one of his troop members behaved improperly. For example, in the movie when he heard one of his men say something he didn’t approve of, he reprimanded him. This also was vested in his title. Legitimate power is the third type of power. This is also known as authority. This is when a subordinate believes the leader’s power over him or her is legitimate. Captain Miller definitely had this power because of his title. This type of power relates to reward and coercive power. Since he is a Captain his gives him the legitimacy to reward and punish his subordinates. At one point in the movie, Captain Miller instructed his army to plan an attack on the enemy. This is a command that puts all of their lives at risk. Because that command came from a Captain and not just another soldier, those who followed his orders most likely did so because of his title. Expert power is the belief that some other individual has expertise in a given area and he or she should defer to the experts judgement. This experience is what made the other soldiers look up to Captain Miller. This expert power is perceived experience. Although the leader may or may not have actual

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