Elastigirl's Use Of Referent Power In The Film

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Elastigirl, frustrated by Violet’s response, yells “I know what I said!” Right as Elastigirl yells this, she realizes that she is responding too harshly and she immediately softens her tone and begins to explain the danger of the situation in a calm but powerful way. Elastigirl did get frustrated and she did yell, but she immediately realized what she was doing and she quieted her tone -- I believe this shows emotional maturity; she not only pursues self control and emotional stability but she is also able to learn her mistake and change it right on the spot. IV. Power Sources A few of the types of power that Helen/Elastigirl uses with her children are legitimate power, coercive power, referent power, expert power. According to Yukl (2013) …show more content…

Referent power is defined by Yukl (2013) as a power that is “derived from the desire of others to please an agent toward whom they have strong feelings of affection, admiration, and loyalty” (p.190). Because Helen is mother to Violet and Dash they have feelings of affection and love towards her. After Violet is unable to create the forceshield last minute before the plane was destroyed she came to her mother, upset and apologizing for her failure to follow directions. Helen is very soft with Violet and tells her that it was okay and that she should not have put so much pressure on her in that moment. Right before Helen leaves to go find Bob she brushes hair out of Violet’s face and tells her (Walker & Bird, …show more content…

According to Yukl (2004), in Encyclopedia of Leadership, “Leadership involves influencing other people to facilitate the performance of collective work” (p. 711). The reason it is so important to have the ability to influence in emergency situations is because it is in those moments that a team should be functioning efficiently and on the same page as the leader. Midway through the movie -- when Helen and two of her children are traveling to the island Mr. Incredible is being held captive at -- two explosive rockets begin following the jet with the intention of destroying it. Helen, who was busy flying the jet and trying to make radio contact with whoever shot off the jets, begins immediately yelling for Violet to create a forceshield around the plane. Violet, who is unfamiliar with using her ability to create a forceshield panics and is unable to follow directions; right before the plane is hit by a rocket, Elastigirl uses her powers to help the three of them escape (Walker & Bird, 2004). In this a particular instance, Elastigirl seems to be using proactive tactics (Walker & Bird, 2004). In Yukl (2013) Chapter 8, “Power and Influence Tactics” proactive tactics are said to, “have an immediate task object,such as getting the target person to carry out a new task, change the procedures used for a current task, provide assistance on a project, or support a proposed change”

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