When Authority Speaks

Happy New Year 2012 and may you experience prosperity and wellness in every area of your life!

WHEN AUTHORITY SPEAKS™ - Series 2

Before we answer questions from the previous blog post, I’d like to define three strategies for you that will take your organization from average to “Exceptional.” There are three types of Authority strategies that are used by Connie Williams Consulting, Inc. They are Positional Authority, Personal Authority, and Collective Authority.

How do you define Authority? Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary defines Authority as, “Power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior.”

Connie Williams Consulting, Inc. definitions:

Positional Authority – a person who has a combination of knowledge, skills, talents, and resources that is selected, appointed, elected, or designated to a leadership position that can command influence over the thinking and actions of others for the purpose of achieving results.

Personal Authority – a combination of knowledge, skills, talents, and resources that make a person an expert in influencing the thinking and actions of others for the purpose of achieving results.

Collective Authority – a collaborative partnership of personal authorities that use their knowledge, skills, talents, and resources as experts in influencing the thinking and action of others for the purpose of achieving results.

Here are the following questions from the previous blog post and Connie Williams Consulting, Inc.’s responses:

How does it feel when you are given an assignment and are told to utilize your strengths, skills, and talents as an approach for completion of the outcome?

Response: Anytime you can utilize your Personal Authority as an

approach to completing tasks, you will be confident.

How does it feel when you are completing the same assignment and are told to utilize unfamiliar approaches for the outcome?

Response: Using unfamiliar approaches in completing tasks takes time and

becomes high maintenance. Using Collective Authority will

help you achieve faster and accurate results with confidence.

Which approach brings out the passion in you?

Response: Using your Personal Authority to complete tasks will

encourage and excite you to exceptional performance.

Is it better to spend time refining your strengths or refining your areas of development?

Response: If your strength is average or overused, you’ll want to develop it

into your Personal Authority. For areas of development in which

you are unskilled, you can get additional training and experience

and/or use Collective Authority. Now, the answer to the above

question depends on how much time is needed to complete the

task(s). If faster results are needed, you would spend time

refining your strengths and using Collective Authority to get

tasks completed. If you have more time, getting the necessary

training and experience would help you go from unskilled to

skilled for a specific task.

In several instances, why does it appear that when a leader is disliked, their Authority” goes unquestioned?

Response: When you review our definition of Positional Authority, you will

notice that the leadership position alone gives a person

command influence over others in achieving results whether they

are liked or disliked. A more effective way for this person to be

successful for their organization is for them to also use their

Personal Authority to make excellent decisions, to mentor

future leaders, and to use Collective Authority to achieve

optimal results. This will give them leverage over more resources

for achieving exceptional performance and to be a valuable

asset for their organization.

Strategic Tip: Form a collaborative partnership with your boss even if you have a challenging relationship. Your boss is in a position of authority for a reason. They might not have the knowledge as a specialist like you do but they could possibly have the influence to leverage resources internally and externally to achieve optimal results for the success of the organization. At lot of bosses are generalists and are skilled influencers...that's why they were possiblity selected by your organization. Skilled influencers can leverage stakeholders and resources to achieve strategic goals and outcomes for their organizations. Your specialized knowledge is there to assist your boss. There are benefits when you partner with your boss that will be beneficial to your career. Understanding the three authorities and the strategies for achieving results with your boss will enhance your career.

Not everyone uses these three Authority strategies in a positive way. We know that an organization will suffer the consequences if Authority is self-centered and ineffective.

Please Note: The bottom line for organizations to exceed in their outcomes and profits will be in completing tasks timely and accurately, within budget, and with produced results. This is "Exceptional Performance!"

These are just a few of the powerful strategies that Connie Williams Consulting, Inc. utilizes to prevent organizations and individuals from being average so they can be positioned at the top of their industry.

Now you know, When Authority Speaks™ and you use performance management strategies; others listen and are influenced to bring you “Exceptional Performance.”

Contact us today at connie@conniewilliamsconsulting.com for a consultation so you can get started on receiving performance management strategies to be the “Authority” in your field.

Purchase our Five-Star Supervision E-book for only $5 and in minutes, you can electronically download and start learning about performance management strategies that will help experienced, new, and aspiring supervisors be respected, confident, and recognized for outstanding skills.

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