Relationship between authority and leadership
the relationship between the ability to influence the behavior of others and the responsibility for directing the group to achieve specific goals. Authority is a formal or recognized source of influence, while leadership is the ability to motivate, direct, and inspire people to achieve desired outcomes, whether within an organization, a group, or a larger community. Authority is defined as the ability to influence or influence others, whether through force, rewards, sanctions, or public recognition of legitimate authority. Authority takes different forms depending on its sources, such as legal authority (formally recognized), traditional authority (derived from customs and traditions), charismatic authority (related to a person’s personality and charisma), and expert authority (based on knowledge or skills). Authority plays a central role in organizing social relations, maintaining order, and distributing resources and responsibilities within a group. Leadership, on the other hand, refers to the ability to guide individuals and groups to achieve common goals through positive influence, persuasion, and intrinsic motivation. Effective leadership relies on communication skills, social intelligence, problem-solving ability, and an understanding of people’s psychological motivations. All this allows the leader to motivate team members, strengthen the sense of belonging, and encourage cooperation to achieve collective success. From a psychological and social point of view, the relationship between power and leadership shows that power itself does not guarantee obedience or loyalty; rather, it must be combined with leadership skills to create a sustainable and positive impact. Research also shows that different leadership styles affect the performance of individuals and groups by fostering collaboration, commitment to values, and adherence to social norms.