The Best Use of Power & Authority as a Leader
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How and when it makes sense for leaders to assert their authority.
Power and authority has it’s place.
I talk often about how dictator-style leaders are no bueno. Leaders who get high on having power and authority over other people destroy morale and company culture, increase turnover, and make for the worst kind of bosses.
That being said, I do think there are appropriate uses for leaders to assert their authority and “power” over others for good. The most important being holding employees accountable, in terms of their behavior and performance — on behalf of other employees and the team’s culture.
Due to power dynamics at play across most organizations, leaders are generally the only ones who can hold employees accountable in this way. They’re the only ones who can step in to coach and correct behavior if someone is under-performing or exhibiting poor behavior. Also the only ones able to make the call to remove someone from the team if that’s what needs to happen.
It’s on leadership to use their power and authority for good by holding the bar high and coaching folks up to be successful.
This is a service to your team.
It’s every leader’s responsibility and duty to their team to uphold a positive, productive culture to benefit the team and organization.
Leaders need to be obsessed with employee experience. Being surrounded by high-performing coworkers who behave and treat each other well is one of the most vital elements of a positive experience as an employee.
Power and authority has its place, and this is it.
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