How you define authority and what it means to you?

After writing the post Basis of authority: be authentic I went over to Confident writing, where Joanna wrote about the same topic - it’s the SOBCon contest -, and I left a comment there wich ended:

I think another interesting topic for one post or several posts could be “How you define authority and what it means to you?”

Now Joanna ducked it for the moment, but I thought I will think and write about that, plus I will nag Amy and Shawnz too – well, she said I should push her to writing, so here we go – that they share their thoughts on this too.

So after the brief introductory here we go.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary authority means the following things

1. a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field — see expert
2. lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) — see rule 2
3. the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly — see influence 1
4. the right or means to command or control others — see power 1

1. a (1): a citation (as from a book or file) used in defense or support (2): the source from which the citation is drawn
   b (1): a conclusive statement or set of statements (as an official decision of a court) (2): a decision taken as a precedent (3): testimony
   c: an individual cited or appealed to as an expert
2. a: power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior
   b: freedom granted by one in authority : right
3. a: persons in command; specifically : government b: a governmental agency or corporation to administer a revenue-producing public enterprise <the transit authority>
4. a: grounds, warrant <had excellent authority for believing the claim>
   b: convincing force <lent authority to the performance>

Most of the time when we talk about authority we instantly think of the 2nd and 4th meaning, the word authority invoking the images of our boss, the policeman, the teacher at the school, etc.

As I wrote to Joanna’s post, I see authority as something that is bestowed upon certain persons in certain areas of life by those who control that area.

For the policeman it’s the police and the Minister of Interior’s, for the teacher the Ministry of Educations, and for the priest it’s his Church.
For experts, bloggers and ‘common’people authority is bestowed by colleagues and readers and people who control that field of expertise.
One thing is common – authority can not be forced. Sure, authority can be misused, abused and taken advantage of, but if the person or people who control the area of the abused authority does not agree with the events, the authority can be, and will be withdrawn.

And it goes down to the roots, if the police chief won’t fire a policeman, then the ministry will fire the police chief and if it does not, then the voters will vote down the minister, and the new minister will fire the chief, and the new chief will fire the policeman.

• I am not naive. It’s not that quick and spectacular most of the time, but in the long run it works like that. Dictators are always elected by the people first, and dictatures are abolished by the people. Always. Sometimes it takes 40 years, sometimes 10, but the dynamics and the process is the same.

With authors, experts and bloggers it is faster. That’s where Amy’s idea of connectivity comes in, where my idea of being authentic and genuine comes into play, and all the rest takes it’s part.

Because as I see it authority is all about power I give you. A chance to prove me you are what I think you are. And if you fail, then I revoke your authority. And then, you have no power. And if you have no power, no authority, then you have nothing. Be a blogger, an expert, a writer, a priest or a politician.

And don’t mix force with power. They are not the same.

And now, what You say?