"He has authority." "You are in authority." "You are my authority." What familiar phrases. Resorting to them, we do not even think about what this word means. And let's talk today about the signs of authority in more detail. Consider this concept and find out how authority is achieved.
Concept
Authority has several meanings. In the broadest sense of the word, this is significance and power based on it. In a narrower sense, it is an inciting action to recognize leadership, thanks to some outstanding merit.
Who is an authority?
An authoritative person is someone who is recognized for any mental merit, his moral qualities, outstanding achievements in a particular field. An important criterion is the non-violent influence of authority on society.
Types of authority
The main types of authority include the following:
- Officer. It is determined by the official position of a person, the position he holds.
- Moral. Depends on personality traits.
- Professional. Its basis is the competence of a specialist in his field of activity.
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Collective. It can rather be attributed to the army and military service.
- Individual. Depends on the individual who is its bearer.
- True. It is based on the high moral qualities of the one who wins this type of authority. Actions in accordance with moral standards are the main criterion for such a person.
False authority
If there is a true authority, then there must be an imaginary one. Or false. An authoritative person is one who seeks to win true authority. Because the false one looks ridiculous and miserable. The wearer does not feel satisfied with this status.
What are the main types of false authority?
- Suppression authority. It consists in the manager's attempt to "crush" his subordinates psychologically.
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The authority of distance. It is expressed in the need to always know and control everything, not allowing anyone to relax even at a distance. At the same time, a person prefers to stay aloof from everyone, being something inaccessible and mysterious for people.
- The authority of swagger. A person with this subspecies of false authority usually does not care about others. He does not delve intoother people's needs and requests, showing with all their appearance how insignificant those around them are. And only he is a significant figure.
- The authority of pedantry. A lot of some incomprehensible conventions, for non-compliance with which there is a punishment. Instilling petty traditions.
- The authority of kindness. This type of authority can be classified as pseudo-democratic. The person who owns it is a kind of "shirt-guy". This pseudo-authority is based on connivance and reduction of requirements.
How to form a skill?
We often think that an authoritative person is one who has been given this skill from above. He didn't do anything for it, he was just born that way. Not at all. Authorities are not born, they are made.
Formation of this skill requires constant work on oneself and revision of one's previous position in life. You have to get rid of old habits, get out of your own comfort zone and say goodbye to people who are dragging you down.
In general, as in any other work, in working on oneself one cannot be lazy and sit still, postponing the start of a new life until tomorrow.
So, where does the formation of a skill begin? The first stage is goal setting. You need to firmly decide what your ultimate goal is, what you want.
A simple example. The man decided to lose weight and switch to proper nutrition. But the family does not understand him, they joke about this and constantly offer to eat a sandwich with butter and cheese, and not suffer from nonsense. It's hard for a manpsychologically, the rejection of the familiar is always stressful. And it is clear that support is required at the first stage. But here she is not, rather the opposite.
What to do in this situation? Move away from your usual environment and find like-minded people. For example, register on a forum for he althy eating or a selected diet. You can go to the gym and make friends.
Second Stage
Over time, achieving your goal becomes a habit. A person calmly gets up in the morning for a run, can refuse a sandwich without a twinge of conscience. He doesn't care what they think of him. The man goes to his goal. It is quite possible that relatives, looking at the persistence with which a person goes towards his goal, will begin to reach out for him. This is how authority is born.
Instead of gatherings at an evening dinner, the whole family goes for a walk. Weekends are spent not in front of the TV, but skiing / skating / cycling, depending on the time of year. Friends notice the changes and start to join this family. A team of like-minded people is being formed.
Third stage
Reinforcement of authority. The person is passionate about a he althy lifestyle. He begins to carefully study this topic. Understand it in more depth. For example, he selects exercises that can be performed with various injuries, is able to make a diet on his own.
What does an authoritative person mean? The rumor about him diverges from friends to friends. People are beginning to consult on he althy eating. This is the consolidation of authority in one or anotherindustry.
The authority of the leader
What does it mean to be an authoritative person in society? And in what society? At least in my own team. It's no secret that leaders are usually not liked. But why? Because they themselves give a reason, most often this is the case.
How to earn and maintain the authority of a leader in a working relationship?
- Be polite to your subordinates, but keep a distance in relationships. For people, an eternally dissatisfied boss who allows himself to raise his voice over any trifle will not become an authority. Subordinates will remain silent, but internal "sabotage" will not take long.
- Don't let yourself sit on your neck. In other words, keep the distance in the boss-subordinate relationship.
- An authoritative person is one who understands his activities. The boss must know the job inside and out. Because the subordinate will be able to calmly approach him in case of a problem, knowing that they will help, prompt and not shout. It is pleasant to go to such a leader, it is pleasant to obey him and carry out these instructions.
- There are rules for everyone. And no one breaks them. That is, if it is forbidden to go out to smoke in an organization and they are fined for it, the head does not stand on the porch with a cigarette. Rules are rules.
- Exclude pendulum effect. Today the boss wants the work to be done according to one algorithm, and two days later he radically changes the system. It is unlikely that subordinates will respect a person who has sevenFridays of the week.
- A leader has obligations to subordinates. And they need to be fulfilled. Don't take on an impossible mission.
Authoritative qualities
As mentioned above, authority is the assessment of a person by the environment or society. What are the arguments of an authoritative person? What should he have?
- Knowledge. People are respected for their knowledge and ability to understand this or that industry "from hair to fingernails".
- Wisdom. The sage will be able to give important advice and consider the situation from the right angle.
- Responsiveness. The ability to come to the rescue, combined with the two points above, to be there at the right time is the key to making people respect and reach out.
- Kindness. You can be both smart and wise, but use these skills as if the people around you are worthless worms. Will such a sage and smart guy be respected?
- Volitional qualities. We have come to where we started. Working on yourself and achieving your goals is an example for others.
World authorities
According to 2017, the richest and most influential person in the world is Jeff Bezos. He is the founder of online retailer Amazon.
Second place in this "hit parade" is occupied by the world-famous Bill Gates.
Third line went to investor Warren Buffett.
Fourth place in the list of the most authoritative people in the worldoccupied by Amancio Ortega, founder of the Zara brand.
And closes the top five Mark Zuckerberg - the creator of the most popular social network Facebook.
Conclusion
Authority is a trained skill. There is no need to think that it is impossible to achieve it. Perhaps - in the event that you constantly work on yourself. People are drawn to strong and outstanding personalities who know how to understand problems thoroughly.
