Final answer:
The most important leadership powers for compliance are reward and legitimate powers because they combine the formal authority and the ability to provide incentives to ensure subordinates follow directives.
Step-by-step explanation:
Leadership powers important for compliance are those that encourage subordinates to follow directives voluntarily or through incentives. Among the options given, reward and legitimate powers are most important for securing compliance. Legitimate power stems from the formal authority given to a leader and the expectation that subordinates will comply with directives. Reward power, on the other hand, is the leader’s capacity to provide incentives or benefits to others. Together, these forms of power can effectively promote compliance without the need for coercion.
Legitimate power is recognized because society has agreed upon a system where leaders are given the right to make decisions and demand obedience. For instance, in democratic societies like the United States, legitimacy is derived from popular sovereignty, where leaders are elected by the people and are expected to act in accordance with a social contract. Reward power is influential because it directly appeals to self-interest, providing tangible or intangible benefits to those who follow the leader's directives.