Far too often, one comes across corporate leaders and managers referring to a lack of authority being a huge handicap in their ability to deliver the goods in their roles. It warrants taking a deep-dive into what authority really means.
The dictionary definition of authority throws up some interesting perspectives as well –
- The power to enforce laws, exact obedience, command, determine, judge
- The power or right to control, judge or prohibit the actions of others
- Legal permission grated to a person to perform a specified act
- Institutionalized and legal power inherent in a job, function or position that is meant to enable its holder to successfully carry out his or her responsibilities
- Power that is delegated formally including a right to command a situation, commit resources, give orders and expect them to be obeyed; it is always accompanied by an equal responsibility for one’s actions or a failure to act
- The power to make decisions; official permission
Some common (and different than the above) interpretations of authority in the corporate world include, but are not limited to –
- Power inherent in a role or office to approve (of) a particular course of action.
- One must assume authority, only responsibility is given
- Or a slightly more benevolent ‘responsibility and authority go hand in hand’
The problems with some of these interpretations and why they usually go wrong is
- In the natural scheme of things it is recommended that authority be delegated but be used responsibly and not the other way round. Various religious scriptures refer to this thought. Also, the meaning of assumption consists of taking for granted which by itself does not lend itself exactly to acting responsibly!
- How often does someone see authority being exercised to disapprove of any action as compared to an approval of a particular course of action? It is few and far between, if at all. So who has made the decision anyway?
- One of the dictionary meanings of responsibility is ‘The ability or authority to act or decide on one’s own, without supervision’!
- Seldom has anyone seen someone being given authority with no responsibility but there are scores of examples vice-versa!
- If most definitions of authority hover around power, and power is vested, the argument should be sealed right there!
The real meaning of authority, and perhaps even its genesis and roots, lies in the alternative description of authority being –
- An expert or authoritative written work n a particular field
- Evidence or testimony
- Confidence resulting from great expertise
- The ability to influence or control others
All of these meanings lean towards the best person to shoulder a responsibility being entrusted the same and being vested with all the powers to carry it out as he/she deems fit since no one has a better understanding of it anyway.
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