Honoring the Gift of Authority

Every day on the CNN website a question is posed to gauge the mood, attitude and views of readers om a range of topics, some serious and some not. A recent question - "Do you trust your boss?" - was posed that caught my attention because a boss is something that just about all of us have in common. In fact, even if we are unemployed or retired, we have someone to whom we report on some level or someone to whom we are accountable. But in addition to the question itself, what also struck me was the response. Out of nearly 100,000 people who answered, the majority said they did not trust their boss. It made me wonder if this is simply a sign of the times in which we live in that people have a growing antipathy toward those in positions of authority. Or are there specific traits or characteristics that organizational superiors - persons with power - are exhibiting that foster mistrust and skepticism? My sense is the answer, at least in part, to both musings is "yes."

Being in a position of authority is a gift. No matter how hard one may have worked toward it, gaining power happens only when others agree to stand aside and let one person take over the big office or wear the crown. Being in a position of power provides the leader with an opportunity to directly affect the lives of others. The leader has power over others. They can dictate the actions of others. They can help determine whether others have good days or bad. They can determine whether others remain employed or unemployed. They can affect the esteem of others in ways that shape how people view themselves. Having this kind of power becomes dangerous when those who have it forget it was a gift rather than something to which they were entitled. For the people who said in the CNN poll they did not trust their boss, perhaps they did so because they have seen or experienced bosses who mishandled this gift that was given them. They abused the gift rather than brought it honor.

The root of effective leadership is found not only in how well such a person communicates but in what they communicate. The best leaders have a vision. They possess a sense of direction for themselves and their followers or organization. But these men and women need to be able to communicate their vision in a manner that is understandable. People only "buy-in" to an idea or cause if they can connect with it on some emotional and intellectual level. If those in-charge cannot or do not establish and then maintain this bond, then their tenure will not last. But this is only part of the equation in terms of the boss as someone who is trustworthy. People are willing to be led if they believe the person leading them is striving to meet their needs and working in their interest. This, too, represents a communication challenge as it requires leaders to be proactive in seeking to reach out to those they lead and, in doing so, serve.