Power represents the capacity of one person or group to secure compliance from another person or group. Nothing is said here about the right to secure complianceonly the ability. In contrast, authority represents the right to seek compliance by others; the exercise of authority is backed by legitimacy. If a manager instructs a secretary to type certain letters, he presumably has the authority to make such a request. However, if the same manager asked the secretary to run personal errands, this would be outside the bounds of the legitimate exercise of authority. Although the secretary may still act on this request, the secretary's compliance would be based on power or influence considerations, not authority. Hence, the exercise of authority is based on group acceptance of someone's right to exercise legitimate control. Finally, leadership is the ability of one individual to elicit responses from another person that go beyond required or mechanical compliance. It is this voluntary aspect of leadership that sets it apart from power and authority. Hence, we often differentiate between headship and leadership. A department head may have the right to require certain actions, whereas a leader has the ability to inspire certain actions. Although both functions may be served by the same individual, such is clearly not always the case.

QUESTIONS:

1. Name some well-known real-life leaders/managers/businessmen who possess great power and authority in an organization.

2. Name some well-known real-life leaders/managers/businessmen who possess great power but no authority in an organization.

3. Name some well-known real-life leaders/managers/businessmen who possess great authority but no power in an organization.