Authority And How Different It Is From Leadership
A person in power utilizes authority to influence people to agree or take part in the same task with them. This kind of person is supported by the laws in force and, as such, can convince other people to take a role in achieving a purpose.
However, the leadership doesn’t make use of the mighty power that is evident to those in authority. Leaders force people to do a job or take a trip in their own interests. They are able to connect with what the person in charge is working on and, in turn, make conscious efforts to work with the leader in order to accomplish the goals set.
It’s not easy to discern between an individual who is in charge and a leader, as both roles are being applied as if they mean a similar thing. This is the reason it is a commonplace to observe the leader demanding and requiring people to do what they are doing. But this should be viewed as the execution of responsibilities by an individual in control, not as a role of leadership.
The term “authority” can be used in a variety of ways and is evident in the manner in which a person uses their power over other people. This could include the following;
Charismatic Authority:
This is the kind of authority that is imposed by an individual over others due to having a solid inner conviction in what they were doing to the level that people are automatically open to everything the person says. A good example is evident in individuals who have traveled across the earth. These people comprise Jesus Christ and Mohammed. They were so consumed by their beliefs about themselves and their objectives that they set out to accomplish them in a manner that showed their humanity, and, as such, they did what they spoke. The people who have charismatic authority are those who have the ability to influence others through whatever they say to the point of influencing them to abide by the rules that are spoken by influential people. This kind of authority could be formalized, as can be observed in religious organizations employing an aura of authority figures such as Jesus or Mohammed in order to alter the actions of their members.
Traditional Authority:
This is the power that is a part of society as a natural thing. A good example could be given of the power an adult has over the conduct of children within a specific social group. It is allowed for the adult to exercise this type of authority to make sure that the child displays the appropriate behavior within the community. The same is true for traditional rulers who hold power to ensure that everyone in their kingdom obeys and adheres to societal standards and rules. They have the authority to issue sanctions to anyone who violates all rules or rules that govern society.
Formal or Rational Authority Formal Authority:
This is a result of the charismatic power that an individual has been formalized or rationalized in order to follow the interests of a particular institution. This is primarily referring to each and every religious organization because they are in a position to draw upon the authority of their founders, such as Jesus Christ, Mohammed, and Mahatma Gandhi, to establish rules and guidelines that members must adhere to up to the point of. Religious organizations mainly derive their legitimacy from the influence that their founders held on their people and utilize it as a metric for maintaining the moral and social actions of their members with the values of their founders.
The three kinds of authority, however, do not allow a person to be an authority figure. This is because while people such as Jesus, Mohammed, and Gandhi were all charismatic leaders, they could have requested people to follow in their footsteps, but none of these influential leaders used that. One aspect that is evident in their use of their authority and charisma can be observed in the fact that they gave each person the chance to make the decision whether or not they wish to follow the direction of a particular person or not. This is the reason why authority is distinct from leadership.
The leader gives those who follow them to make their own decisions. The significant difference between a leader from one who is in authority. A leader will always make sure that his followers make their own decision to follow their direction without being compelled or compelled to follow.
Author bio: Jeff Evans, Ph.D. I am the CEO at Envision Global Leadership, Inc. A leader development and organizational development consulting firm that is focused on change management. I have worked on large-scale organizational change as an external and internal consultant. My work includes the development of e-commerce businesses, new organizational designs, and new startups, as well as alliances and joint ventures in international and global environments. My professional background can be described as diverse. My diverse experiences provide extensive background for my work as an executive coach, consultant, and as public speaking.
