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#2 Authority
Card #2 is Authority. The caption reads: “The right to lead or command.”
Authority is slightly more palatable to me than Social Power, but only just. I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, I have clear examples of abuse of authority in my life—early on, and consistently throughout. Maybe you’ve experienced that, too. I am suspicious of people who stand up and wave their own flags and try to teach others about the value of submitting to their Authority.
But on the other hand, I spent years in construction. And on a job site, Authority isn’t a dirty word. It’s a safety feature.
If the foreman shouts “Stop!”, you don’t debate him. You stop. Not because he is a better human than you, but because he sees the crane swinging your way.
I believe in the structure of Authority, but I distinguish between authority being Imposed versus being Imbued.
* Imposed Authority is the boss who demands respect because of his title.
* Imbued Authority is the leader you listen to because you know they are looking at the blueprints and keeping the building from falling down.
Interesting are the times in our lives when we have Authority thrust upon us. We end up in some situation where we’re suddenly in charge—in charge of setting the tone, setting the agenda. In charge of the well-being of those who cannot care for themselves.
I reflect on the bookends of our lives. At the beginning, you are a helpless babe. You rely on the authority of parents to feed you and keep you warm. And assuming you live until you are old, you will likely return to a similarly helpless state. The day our children take our driver’s licenses away is a painful transition of authority.
But authority is a part of the great cycle of life. It is not just about “Command.” It is about stewardship.
Who is an authority in your life right now? And more importantly, whose safety has been entrusted to your authority?
*
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nickfromoregon.substack.com
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By A series of indeterminate length exploring the core things that drive us.Card #2 is Authority. The caption reads: “The right to lead or command.”
Authority is slightly more palatable to me than Social Power, but only just. I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, I have clear examples of abuse of authority in my life—early on, and consistently throughout. Maybe you’ve experienced that, too. I am suspicious of people who stand up and wave their own flags and try to teach others about the value of submitting to their Authority.
But on the other hand, I spent years in construction. And on a job site, Authority isn’t a dirty word. It’s a safety feature.
If the foreman shouts “Stop!”, you don’t debate him. You stop. Not because he is a better human than you, but because he sees the crane swinging your way.
I believe in the structure of Authority, but I distinguish between authority being Imposed versus being Imbued.
* Imposed Authority is the boss who demands respect because of his title.
* Imbued Authority is the leader you listen to because you know they are looking at the blueprints and keeping the building from falling down.
Interesting are the times in our lives when we have Authority thrust upon us. We end up in some situation where we’re suddenly in charge—in charge of setting the tone, setting the agenda. In charge of the well-being of those who cannot care for themselves.
I reflect on the bookends of our lives. At the beginning, you are a helpless babe. You rely on the authority of parents to feed you and keep you warm. And assuming you live until you are old, you will likely return to a similarly helpless state. The day our children take our driver’s licenses away is a painful transition of authority.
But authority is a part of the great cycle of life. It is not just about “Command.” It is about stewardship.
Who is an authority in your life right now? And more importantly, whose safety has been entrusted to your authority?
*
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nickfromoregon.substack.com