Power and Authority

The meaning of power and authority are often confused and believed to be synonymous. To properly understand them in the context of leadership, it would help to include discipline as an element of the discussion. If we separate discipline into internal (self) and external (imposed) discipline, we recognize:

Power, and the sharing of power, is utilized by and between disciplined individuals.
A disciplined person seeks to achieve or exceed the standard of performance.
Authority, the use of external discipline can only achieve minimal acceptable standards.
If the standard and it's achievement is established, monitored and enforced by others, external discipline is being employed.

Discipline is always positive. Negative discipline is actually punishment or corrective action. Power is the dynamic that seeks excellence. Power is only shared with those we perceive as disciplined, those who seek to achieve or exceed the standard. Discipline, therefore, is fundamental to any relationship because trust is totally dependent on discipline.