Power differs from influence in that it is coercive while influence is persuasive. Influence can be defined as the ability to create an impact on the beliefs and actions of an individual. Influence evokes respect. Unlike Power, influence contains such a magic that those under the influence keep working in the desired manner even in the absence of the influential person. Influence is a desirable trait in any leader.
G. A. I. Ofoegbu (1999) defined power as the ability of a person or a group of persons to enforce his or their decisions on other people by use of sanctions, punishment or penalties against disobedience. On the other hand, through persuasion and conviction an individual could be made to accept and to obey the views of other persons.