Authority Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Authority - Essay Example military, the importance of authority in the military, and also what may happen if authority is either lacking or not respected by the appropriate subordinates. Before exploring how authority is used in the military, it is important to understand what the word means and the ideas that it implies. The Collins English Dictionary offers up a variety of definitions, such as "the power or right to control, judge, or prohibit the actions of others," or "such a power or right delegated, especially from one person to another," or "the ability to influence or control others" (Collins). If we dissect these definitions one-by-one, we can see a recurring pattern across all three: power. Authority can only be gained through power, mostly due to the position that someone holds. A high up position can give someone authority over others because of their job description, which likely allows them to offer guidance to subordinates. Another component of the word authority is that it is delegated or assigned, typically from one person to another. Authority is often found in a chain of command, with those towards to top of the tree afforded more authority than p eople lower down the food chain. Also, authority usually is a two-way street between leaders and followers. There has to be a relationship between each set of individuals and both should know where they stand in the relationship; only in an equal relationship will there be no need for either party to have authority over the other. Informal relationships are often like this, whereas in formal situations authority is necessary in order to preserve some sort of organization within large groups of people. Finally, the definition of authority involves influence or control applied by one person over another. In less formal situations, a leader will look to influence his or her subordinates but not control them. Controlling a group of people allows little room for them to be creative and think outside the box. In formal organizations,