Final answer:
Referent power is where people are drawn to a leader due to respect, admiration, and the leader's personal qualities. It is linked to charismatic authority, where leaders inspire followers through their personal charm and moral authority, different from traditional authority which is based on established customs, or rational-legal authority based on laws and procedures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of power where people naturally gravitate towards a leader who comes across as fair, approachable, and adept at handling situations can be explained by referent power. Referent power is derived from the personal respect and admiration that a leader commands from followers. Individuals with referent power, often characterized as charismatic leaders, have the ability to influence others due to the followers' loyalty, respect, friendship, admiration, affection, or a desire to gain approval.
Charismatic authority is power legitimized on the basis of a leader's exceptional personal qualities and ability to attract followers. For example, historical figures such as Joan of Arc and modern leaders like Mother Teresa are seen as having charismatic authority. These leaders were able to inspire followers and effect change due to their personal charisma and moral authority.
Another related concept in the realm of authority is traditional authority. According to sociologist Max Weber, traditional authority is accepted because it has been established over a long period, and its legitimacy exists because it has historically been accepted. This differs from a rational-legal authority, where legitimacy comes from the belief in laws and a formal structure, such as a constitution or the accepted rules within a company's employee handbook.