Power & Authority | Managerial Outlook

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Power and authority are usually used interchangeably, but technically these two are different, let us explore how ?

What is Power and Authority ?

Power is broader concept, and could be defined as ability to influence / impact beliefs and action of other person or group.

While as authority has more appropriate meaning in organisational settings. Authority, is a more of a right of a person / group to affect others or influence decision making. It originated from the position held by the person/group exercising it.

Bases of Power

A power could be sourced with or without an authority. A few sources from which power could originate are :

1. By the position held. In this form, power is derived from the authority been bestowed on the person exercising it. Illustration, judges exercise the power been granted to them by the judiciary system.

2. Cultural Beliefs, this could well be observed by the power exercised by cults.

3. Expertness of a person / group, eg. physician have the ability to influence belief of patients through their expertise in medical science.

4. Ability to grant rewards.