Why is it important for leaders to make use of referent and expert power in addition to the other types of power? Without expert power your employees will soon leave to form their own competing companies. Making use of all of the sources of power at your disposal makes it more likely your employees will listen to you. A failure to make use of referent power means that your superiors will promote someone else who they see as a more inspiring leader. If you abuse your power as a leader, then once a former employee is your boss they will be in a position to punish you