Social Work Qualifying Practice Exam

Reward power is the base of power that involves delivering rewards when others comply with your wishes. It comes from the ability to provide valued incentives in exchange for compliance, such as praise, recognition, or tangible rewards. This differs from coercive power, which relies on punishment; legitimate power, which stems from formal authority; and referent power, which arises from admiration and identification with the leader. In practice, offering rewards can motivate clients or staff to take desired actions, but should be used fairly and transparently to avoid undermining intrinsic motivation or trust.