First-line supervisors may have legitimate, reward and coercive sources of power, but their actual power is often limited by a lack of discretion.

First-line Supervisors

Managers or supervisors who are at the lowest level of an organization's hierarchy and have direct oversight of non-managerial employees.

Lack of Discretion

The absence of autonomy or freedom in making decisions or acting in certain situations.

Legitimate Power

Refers to power that is officially sanctioned and recognized by the authority structures of an organization or society.