PALMONES, MARICAR B.

ED.D

Insights
As Person in Authority

Authority is an important piece of the puzzle. When we say person in authority it

says that it is a person in authority is one directly vested with jurisdiction, whether as an
individual or as a member of some court or governmental corporation, board or
commission.
As a leader with an authority, it’s your responsibility to be aware of the control
you hold over other people. And most importantly, how to use this control to guide
your team to success. A good leader understands the different types of power and when
it’s appropriate to use them. They also understand how to use influencing tactics to
achieve outcomes.
Authority is the right to assign tasks and responsibilities, allocate and direct
resources, make decisions, and enforce compliance. On the other hand, leadership is
based on the personal qualities and character of an individual. It is about social skills,
not power and control. There is a foundation of agreement and trust between leaders
and their teams. An important aspect of leadership is the delegation of authority.
Through delegation, leaders empower their teams to do the work they are best suited
to. As well as dividing up work, delegation is about sharing responsibility and decision-
making. Real authority, which people obey, comes from function and experience. The
challenge of good management is giving authority to those who have real responsibility
for their function.