Power vs. Authority: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Power is the ability to influence or control behavior, whereas authority is the recognized or legitimate right to exercise power.
Key Differences
Power refers to the capacity to influence or control the actions of others, regardless of one's formal position, whereas Authority is the legitimate and formal right to give orders and make decisions. Power can exist without authority, manifesting as influence or persuasion.
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Dec 21, 2023
Authority is often granted through a structured process or by societal norms, signifying recognized and accepted power. Conversely, Power can be derived from various sources such as knowledge, experience, or personal charisma, and doesn't necessarily require formal recognition.
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Dec 21, 2023
In the realm of Power, it can be exerted through coercion, persuasion, or by possessing skills or knowledge that others find valuable. Authority, however, is more about the formal rights that come from a role or position, like a manager in a company, and is less dependent on personal attributes.
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Authority also implies a responsibility and accountability to those who have granted it, such as constituents in a democracy. On the other hand, Power can be wielded without accountability, especially in informal settings or where it is derived from personal traits.
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Dec 21, 2023
Power can exist in all relationships and is more about dynamics and interactions. Authority is more specific to certain roles and is often outlined by laws or organizational rules, providing a structured approach to decision-making and leadership.
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Dec 21, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Source
Can be informal, based on personal traits
Derived from a formal position or role
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Legitimacy
Not necessarily recognized or legitimate
Generally recognized and accepted
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Dependence
On personal abilities or situations
On formal structures and roles
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Accountability
Often lacks formal accountability
Usually comes with accountability
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Application
Widespread, in various contexts
More specific, often within organizations
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Power and Authority Definitions
Power
Power is the ability to influence others' actions or decisions.
Her persuasive speech showcased her power to sway public opinion.
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Authority
Authority is the legitimate power to influence or guide.
The author's authority on medieval history is widely acknowledged.
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Dec 15, 2023
Power
Power denotes the capacity to enforce rules or norms.
The government exercises its power through law enforcement.
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Authority
Authority is the recognized right to make decisions.
The principal's authority was respected by both teachers and students.
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Power
Power involves possessing knowledge or expertise.
His power in the field of robotics made him a sought-after consultant.
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Authority
Authority encompasses the responsibility to lead or govern.
With great authority comes the responsibility to lead ethically.
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Power
The ability or capacity to act or do something effectively
Is it in your power to undo this injustice?.
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Authority
The power to enforce laws, exact obedience, command, determine, or judge.
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Power
Often powers A specific capacity, faculty, or aptitude
Her powers of concentration.
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Authority
One that is invested with this power, especially a government or body of government officials
Land titles issued by the civil authority.
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Power
Physical strength or force exerted or capable of being exerted
The power of the waves.
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Authority
Power assigned to another; authorization
Deputies were given authority to make arrests.
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Power
Effectiveness at moving one's emotions or changing how one thinks
A novel of great power.
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Authority
A public agency or corporation with administrative powers in a specified field
A city transit authority.
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Power
The ability or official capacity to exercise control; authority
How long has that party been in power?.
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Authority
An accepted source of expert information or advice
A noted authority on birds.
A reference book often cited as an authority.
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Power
The military strength or economic or political influence of a nation or other group
That country projects its power throughout the region.
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Authority
A quotation or citation from such a source
Biblical authorities for a moral argument.
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Power
A country, nation, or other political unit having great influence or control over others
The western powers.
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Authority
Justification; grounds
On what authority do you make such a claim?.
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Authority
A conclusive statement or decision that may be taken as a guide or precedent.
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Power
Powers(Christianity) The sixth of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology.
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Authority
Power to influence or persuade resulting from knowledge or experience
Political observers who acquire authority with age.
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Power
The energy or motive force by which a physical system or machine is operated
Turbines turned by steam power.
A sailing ship driven by wind power.
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Authority
Confidence derived from experience or practice; firm self-assurance
Played the sonata with authority.
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Power
The capacity of a system or machine to operate
A vehicle that runs under its own power.
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Authority
(uncountable) Power or right to make or enforce rules or give orders; or a position having such power or right.
I have the authority to penalise the staff in my department, but not the authority to sack them.
Vigilantes may have the power to nab criminals, but they lack the authority.
She lost all respect and authority after turning up drunk at the meeting.
Respect my authority!
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Power
Electrical or mechanical energy, especially as used to assist or replace human energy.
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Authority
(plural) Persons, regarded collectively, who occupy official positions of power; police or law enforcement.
Authorities say the suspect fled on foot.
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Power
Electricity supplied to a home, building, or community
A storm that cut off power to the whole region.
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Authority
(countable) A reliable, definitive source of information on a subject.
The world's foremost authority on orangutans
My cheap dictionary is not the authority on word derivations.
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Power
(Physics) The rate at which work is done, expressed as the amount of work per unit time and commonly measured in units such as the watt and horsepower.
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Authority
(uncountable) Status as a trustworthy source of information, reputation for mastery or expertise; or claim to such status or reputation.
Some thinkers regard appealing to authority as a logical fallacy; others regard it as a legitimate form of argument.
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Power
The product of applied potential difference and current in a direct-current circuit.
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Authority
Official permission; authorisation to act in some capacity on behalf of a ruling entity.
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Power
The product of the effective values of the voltage and current with the cosine of the phase angle between current and voltage in an alternating-current circuit.
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Authority
(countable) A government-owned agency that runs a revenue-generating activity for public benefit.
New York Port Authority
Chicago Transit Authority
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Authority
Legal or rightful power; a right to command or to act; power exercised buy a person in virtue of his office or trust; dominion; jurisdiction; authorization; as, the authority of a prince over subjects, and of parents over children; the authority of a court.
Thus can the demigod, Authority,Make us pay down for our offense.
By what authority doest thou these things ?
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Authority
Government; the persons or the body exercising power or command; as, the local authorities of the States; the military authorities.
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Power
(Statistics) In a statistical test, the probability of correctly rejecting the null hypothesis when it is false.
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Authority
The power derived from opinion, respect, or esteem; influence of character, office, or station, or mental or moral superiority, and the like; claim to be believed or obeyed; as, an historian of no authority; a magistrate of great authority.
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Power
A measure of the magnification of an optical instrument, such as a microscope or telescope.
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Authority
That which, or one who, is claimed or appealed to in support of opinions, actions, measures, etc.
Wilt thou be glass wherein it shall discernAuthority for sin, warrant for blame.
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Power
Chiefly Upper Southern US A large number or amount. See Note at powerful.
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Authority
The power or right to give orders or make decisions;
He has the authority to issue warrants
Deputies are given authorization to make arrests
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Authority
(usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over others;
The authorities have issued a curfew
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Power
Of or relating to political, social, or economic control
A power struggle.
A power base.
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Authority
An expert whose views are taken as definitive;
He is an authority on corporate law
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Power
Operated with mechanical or electrical energy in place of bodily exertion
A power tool.
Power car windows.
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Authority
Freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities;
His assurance in his superiority did not make him popular
After that failure he lost his confidence
She spoke with authority
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Power
Of or relating to the generation or transmission of electricity
Power companies.
Power lines.
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Authority
An administrative unit of government;
The Central Intelligence Agency
The Census Bureau
Office of Management and Budget
Tennessee Valley Authority
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Power
(Informal) Of or relating to influential business or professional practices
A pinstriped suit with a power tie.
Met with high-level executives at a power breakfast.
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Authority
Official permission or approval;
Authority for the program was renewed several times
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Authority
An authoritative written work;
This book is the final authority on the life of Milton
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Authority
Authority refers to a position of trust and command.
As a judge, she held the authority to interpret and apply the law.
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Authority
Authority implies having official power or sanction.
The police officer's authority to arrest is granted by the law.
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Power
Physical force or strength.
He needed a lot of power to hit the ball out of the stadium.
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Power
Electricity or a supply of electricity.
After the pylons collapsed, this town was without power for a few days.
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Power
The strength by which a lens or mirror magnifies an optical image.
We need a microscope with higher power.
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Power
Any of the elementary forms or parts of machines: three primary (the lever, inclined plane, and pulley) and three secondary (the wheel-and-axle, wedge, and screw).
The mechanical powers
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Power
A measure of the effectiveness that a force producing a physical effect has over time. If linear, the quotient of: (force multiplied by the displacement of or in an object) ÷ time. If rotational, the quotient of: (force multiplied by the angle of displacement) ÷ time.
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Power
A product of equal factors (and generalizations of this notion): , read as " to the power of " or the like, is called a power and denotes the product , where appears times in the product; is called the base and the exponent.
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Power
(statistics) The probability that a statistical test will reject the null hypothesis when the alternative hypothesis is true.
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Power
In Christian angelology, an intermediate level of angels, ranked above archangels, but exact position varies by classification scheme.
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Power
(transitive) To provide power for (a mechanical or electronic device).
This CD player is powered by batteries.
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Dec 13, 2023
Power
Ability to act, regarded as latent or inherent; the faculty of doing or performing something; capacity for action or performance; capability of producing an effect, whether physical or moral: potency; might; as, a man of great power; the power of capillary attraction; money gives power.
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Dec 13, 2023
Power
Ability, regarded as put forth or exerted; strength, force, or energy in action; as, the power of steam in moving an engine; the power of truth, or of argument, in producing conviction; the power of enthusiasm.
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Dec 13, 2023
Power
Capacity of undergoing or suffering; fitness to be acted upon; susceptibility; - called also passive power; as, great power of endurance.
Power, then, is active and passive; faculty is active power or capacity; capacity is passive power.
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Dec 13, 2023
Power
The exercise of a faculty; the employment of strength; the exercise of any kind of control; influence; dominion; sway; command; government.
Power is no blessing in itself but when it is employed to protect the innocent.
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Dec 13, 2023
Power
The agent exercising an ability to act; an individual invested with authority; an institution, or government, which exercises control; as, the great powers of Europe; hence, often, a superhuman agent; a spirit; a divinity.
And the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
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Power
A military or naval force; an army or navy; a great host.
Never such a power . . . Was levied in the body of a land.
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Power
The rate at which mechanical energy is exerted or mechanical work performed, as by an engine or other machine, or an animal, working continuously; as, an engine of twenty horse power.
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Power
A mechanical agent; that from which useful mechanical energy is derived; as, water power; steam power; hand power, etc.
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Power
The product arising from the multiplication of a number into itself; as, a square is the second power, and a cube is third power, of a number.
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Power
A machine acted upon by an animal, and serving as a motor to drive other machinery; as, a dog power.
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Dec 13, 2023
Power
Mental or moral ability to act; one of the faculties which are possessed by the mind or soul; as, the power of thinking, reasoning, judging, willing, fearing, hoping, etc.
The guiltiness of my mind, the sudden surprise of my powers, drove the grossness . . . into a received belief.
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Dec 13, 2023
Power
The degree to which a lens, mirror, or any optical instrument, magnifies; in the telescope, and usually in the microscope, the number of times it multiplies, or augments, the apparent diameter of an object; sometimes, in microscopes, the number of times it multiplies the apparent surface.
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Power
An authority enabling a person to dispose of an interest vested either in himself or in another person; ownership by appointment.
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Power
Hence, vested authority to act in a given case; as, the business was referred to a committee with power.
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Power
Possession of controlling influence;
The deterrent power of nuclear weapons
The power of his love saved her
His powerfulness was concealed by a gentle facade
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Power
(physics) the rate of doing work; measured in watts (= joules/second)
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Power
Possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done;
Danger heightened his powers of discrimination
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Power
(of a government or government official) holding an office means being in power;
Being in office already gives a candidate a great advantage
During his first year in office
During his first year in power
The power of the president
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Power
One possessing or exercising power or influence or authority;
The mysterious presence of an evil power
May the force be with you
The forces of evil
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Power
A mathematical notation indicating the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself
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Power
Supply the force or power for the functioning of;
The gasoline powers the engines
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Power
Power refers to having control over resources or situations.
The CEO's power was evident in his ability to allocate company resources.
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Dec 15, 2023
Power
Power can mean physical strength or capability.
The power of the storm uprooted trees and damaged homes.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What makes authority legitimate?
Authority is considered legitimate when it's granted through recognized and accepted social or organizational structures.
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Dec 21, 2023
Can power be democratic?
Yes, power can be democratic when it's distributed and exercised by a group's consensus or vote.
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What is power in a social context?
In a social context, power is the ability to influence or control the actions and beliefs of others.
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Dec 21, 2023
Is authority always formal?
Generally, authority is formal as it's often linked to specific roles or positions within a structured system.
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Dec 21, 2023
Can authority exist without power?
Yes, one can have authority (a formal right) without actual power (the ability to influence), though it's less effective.
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How is power gained?
Power can be gained through various means, including knowledge, experience, persuasion, or control of resources.
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What role does power play in leadership?
In leadership, power is crucial for influencing, guiding, and making decisions that impact a group or organization.
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Dec 21, 2023
Is authority inherent in certain positions?
Yes, certain positions, like government officials, inherently come with authority.
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Does authority always involve responsibility?
Generally, authority comes with responsibility to those who have granted it and for the decisions made.
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Dec 21, 2023
How does power affect relationships?
Power dynamics significantly influence relationships, impacting decision-making, interactions, and behavior.
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Can authority be delegable?
Yes, authority can often be delegated to others, particularly in organizational settings.
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Can authority be challenged?
Yes, authority can be challenged, especially if it's seen as illegitimate or unfairly exercised.
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How can authority be maintained?
Authority is maintained through consistent, fair, and ethical exercise of power and decision-making.
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What is an example of informal power?
Informal power is exemplified by a respected elder in a community whose opinions greatly influence others.
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Are power and authority interchangeable?
No, they are not interchangeable; power is about capability and influence, while authority is about formal rights.
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Dec 21, 2023
Is power dynamic?
Yes, power is dynamic and can change based on circumstances, relationships, and contexts.
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Dec 21, 2023
How do power and authority affect decision-making?
Both power and authority significantly affect decision-making, with power influencing through capability and authority through formal rights.
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Dec 21, 2023
How does societal culture affect power?
Societal culture significantly influences how power is perceived, acquired, and exercised.
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Dec 21, 2023
Can someone have power but not be in a leadership role?
Yes, individuals can have power due to personal traits or knowledge without being in a formal leadership role.
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Dec 21, 2023
Can power be negative?
Power can be negative if used coercively, unethically, or to harm others.
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Dec 21, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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