Authority is known as the right to assign duties and responsibilities, distribute and manage personnel, decide things, and maintain compliance.

Authority can be official and granted or informal and gained. Authority also refers to the lawful ability to make selections on the company’s behalf. Individuals with legal authority can behave as they see appropriate to fulfil the company’s aims and objectives. It grants a person the authority to utilize and distribute resources in the interest of the organization or group goals. The presumption is that a person with real power will behave in the company’s best interests.

Traditional Authority

Traditions and practices provide credibility to traditional authority. This concept is referred to as the authority of the everlasting yesteryear. Subordinates accept the sort of authority in this style of control. They refrain from opposing a powerful group’s or individual’s customary privileges.

Inequalities are created and maintained by traditional power. If the leader’s authority is not questioned, they will remain in power indefinitely.

Charismatic Authority

Charismatic authority stems from an individual’s charisma, power, and appeal. Individuals don’t follow charismatic leaders because of morality, tradition, or law. People obey this authority since they trust the leader. 

With this influence, a charismatic leader’s genuine knowledge and talents aren’t always relevant. Their authority is accepted as long as the individuals they lead feel they are competent. It is challenging for charismatic leaders to maintain their power. This is because their supporters should always follow their leader’s authority for the leader to retain control.

Legal-Rational Authority

Rational-legal power is often referred to as bureaucratic or legal authority. An individual or governing group wields power based on legal office with this form of authority. The authority of the individual in charge is lost when they quits their official post. Those who control have the legal power to do so, and their followers acknowledge this legal authority.

Presence Of Authority

Authority may be found in all facets of modern life. Different sorts of power keep everyone in check, from business contexts to government.

Although authority is essential in the workplace, good leaders understand when to employ which form of authority during any scenario. They utilize it sparingly, in conjunction with the proper managerial approach.

Great leaders do not depend on one sort of authority alone. They develop long-lasting forms of authority among the individuals essential to their success. This is why individuals will adhere to a leader even if that leader leaves their position.