Authority Is Not Essential

Skill and attitude are essential. Authority is not. In fact, authority can get in the way. – Seth Godin

In most cases, we think that leadership and authority go hand in hand. If you are a leader, it is because you have a title of some sort. On the other side, if you are a leader, we think you automatically have authority. With authentic leadership, authority does not matter. As family leaders, we often rely too much on our title as a parent and not our attitude or skill.

There is a phrase that I know I have used in my family too many times that is a sure sign that you are hiding behind authority. That is the phrase “because I said so.” Sometimes it is just so much easier to use the authority we have as parents because it is the short term fix. While this works in the short term, it does not pay off long term.

Think of your own life and the times where you have been a part of a group or team where the person who is the leader is all about leading with their title. I would guess that you don’t look back on that person too fondly. With our families, we have the chance to lead and guide. When we lead with authority, we point and say go and do. When we are true parent leaders, we guide and teach.

A family and a family leader who truly understands their own family’s purpose can guide and lead in a way to empower those around us. That is what true parentship is. It does not require authority, but it requires someone who loves and guides those who they get the opportunity to serve as a leader.

3 Questions To Lead To Action

What are some of the situations I feel I use authority rather than leadership in my family?

What is one area I can focus more on guiding my family rather than pointing and telling?

Does my family understand our family purpose so I can guide them to this goal?

#Family #Parentship #Family #FamilyLead #Leadership #BecauseISaidSo #Authority 

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