Social Leadership is a form of authority which is earned, but it is a form of authority nonetheless. It is a type of power, and we shouldn't consider that we have formal power, ‘proper’ power, ‘structural’ power, and then we're nice around the edges of it.
I would argue that in the context of the Social Age, formal and social authority both have a role to play in helping us to create the environment we wish for and our organisations to create the environment that they need.
The culture, the effectiveness of our organisations is wrapped between formal and social structures.
Hence why I would argue that Social Leadership takes place at the intersection of those systems.
I don't position it to say social leadership happens around the edges, it happens at the intersection.
And today I want us to think about authority, which might sound a bit strict, but it's important.
Use your sixty seconds today to think about the authority that you hold.
Is it through your expertise, through your knowledge, through your kindness, your generosity?
Has it been imposed on you or something that you've willingly picked up?
Just look at yourself within your system and consider the type of authority that you hold beyond your formal power.
Day #491 - Authority