What is the difference between Power and Authority?
Power holds a particular office or some sort of position, to have the capability to achieve an end.
Authority the ability a person has to completely command a particular situation, has personal influence.
"Power is the ability to exercise ones will over others." -Lord Acton
Power gives you the capability to carry out an action. Power affects more than personal relationships, but larger dynamics such as social groups, professional organizations, and governments. An everyday example of power is how a police officer has the power to pull you over and write you a ticket.
Hitler would be an example of extreme power but not all endeavors to gain power lead to violence. Martin Luther King JR. and Mohandas Ghandi are examples of peaceful ways of gaining power through non violent protests.
Authority on the other hand is accepted power, it's the power people agree to follow. People follow these leaders because they agree with their objectives, demands, and feel they are worthy of respect.As I said before the police officer has the power to pull you over and write you a ticket, but his authority is the reason why you agree to pull over when you see the flashing lights in your rearview mirror.
Max Weber,(shown above) a sociologist, identified that they're three types of authority.
1. Traditional Authority
legitimized by long standing custom.
historic personality.
patriarchy
Queen Elizabeth, a monarchy, is an example of traditional authority.
The ruler typically has no real force to maintain his position but depends basically on a groups respect. Alonso and Ferdinand from The Tempest by William Shakespeare also demonstrates this authority.
2. Charismatic Authority
leaders with personal qualities
have dynamic personalities
These leaders are accepted because the people are drawn by these personal qualities.
They're capable of inspiring their followers to make unusual sacrifices, or lift them up in great hardship.
Charismatic leaders tend to come about in times of crisis, they're able to offer innovative solutions. But tend to hold power for short periods of time.
Hitler, MLK JR., Malcolm X,Napoleon, Margaret Thatcher, and Mother Theresa are all examples of charismatic authority,
3. Legal-Rational Authority
Their authority resides in the office they're in not in the person
Bureaucratic Officials
This authorities power is made by legitimate laws, written rules, and regulations. Usually a nation following a constitution.
US presidency and congress are examples of this authority.
Power is an entity or an individuals ability to control, direct others. Authority is an influence predicted on perceived legitimacy.
"Power is the ability to exercise ones will over others." -Max Weber
Which is better to have, power or authority?
Authority is not something that can taken away or given to you physically. It's about who you are as a person, and your character to have the ability to influence people.
Power overtime can damage relationships. Power can get the job done but over time power can be taken away from you.
Good leaders lead by authority not by power.
"Authority comes from author. If I'm the author of a theory or book, then I'm the authority on this subject." -unknown
This is like the Boatswan and Alonso in The Tempest.
The Boatswan has the power over the sailors but has the authority to tell Alonso and the nobles to go inside. because he is the "author" on this subject, he is the person with knowledge over this situation of saving the ship. Now Alonso, being king, has power over the nobles and everyone on the ship. But he knows his authority isn't valid in this situation because this is not his "subject" to take control over so he listens to authority.
Every leader can lead with one of these, without the other. But a true leader has both power and authority. Having both of these characteristics gives you the ability to rule unbounded by time. Because not only is he qualified for the job but the people agree with his objectives.
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