1974 was a watershed year in the United States.  Our President resigned from office over what became known as the Watergate Scandal.  It was the culmination of a series of events not the least which was the United State’s involvement in the Viet Nam War.

Prior to the 1960’s, Positional Authority was very much the rule of the land.  If your teacher told your parents that you acted out in school, seldom were you asked a question.  Punishment was administered.  A Congressman, the President, a parent, a teacher, a boss, indeed any authority figure was to be respected due to the position they held.

The press respected this too.  We now know that there were many activities going on in President John F. Kennedy’s White House that were less than honorable.  However, not a word of it made it into the press.  They protected his privacy out of respect for the office of President.

I’m sure President Nixon thought the rules were the same for him.  However, the rules had changed between Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, and they have not gone back.

With the exception of the military (and even there changes are coming), Positional Authority died.

Nevertheless, Earned Authority is still very much alive.  You’ll still see those “leaders” who don’t know any other way to engage their troops without “pulling rank,” and telling them what they should be doing without even giving them a “why.”

Usually such an approach produces a Compliant Child or Rebellious Child reaction with the leader never knowing truth from his/her followers.  Earning leadership is what this series of posters is all about.

Management guru Peter Drucker spoke oftentimes of the skills needed to manage a non-profit organization of volunteers where one can’t pull rank – threatening a pay cut or firing a person.  He said that if every leader led the for profit business as though it were a non-profit, morale would be higher and much greater productivity would consequently occur.

As a leader, my hope is that for your own sake and the sake of your followers you never settle for Positional Authority when the potential for Earned Authority exists.

Categories: Influence

Tags: influence