Five Levels of Authority

This is a great teaching by Mark. Enjoy.

Five Levels of Authority
On April 2, 2010, in Alignment Principles,
by Mark & Nicki Pfeifer Ministries
Authority must be both earned and progressive.  It works best when it is freely given by those whom it affects (earned) while those who possess it grow proportionately in character with its use (progressive).
Authority “the ability to gain the respect of other people and to influence what they do (Encarta Dictionary)”

In order to exercise true authority in your sphere (home, ball team, work, church, civic organization, etc.) consider these Five Levels of Authority that can serve as a roadmap to ever-increasing effective leadership.  These levels reflect the two qualities mentioned above – authority that is both earned and progressive.
Level #1:  Positional Authority
This is authority that is gained when someone is given a position.  It is the lowest form of authority.  Although this may be the starting point of leadership, effective leaders move quickly from this position and onto the next level.  Leaders who don’t navigate from this lowly state of authority flex their muscle in a limited sphere but never produce the kinds of followers that can achieve beyond the limits of what is absolutely necessary.
The followers give OBEDIENCE on this level.
People will only do what is absolutely necessary in order to keep their jobs or to stay on the team at this level…but not an inch more!  They only follow this type of leader because they have to.  Once the limits of the leader’s stated authority have been reached, the follower checks out.

Level #2:  Relational Authority
This describes a new level of authority that is gained when leaders connect with their followers on a personal level.  At this point, people know that the leader genuinely cares for them and has their best interests at heart.  This empowers the leader with new authority that can take the team to a higher level of achievement.
The followers give LOVE on this level.
People will genuinely like this leader.  They will work a little harder for him/her because they feel like the leader cares for them.  They can see the leader’s heart and they like what they see.  They view them on a personal level and not just as boss.

Level #3:  Experiential Authority
This is authority that is achieved by displaying competency.  Leaders at this level must have a track record.  They have proven themselves trustworthy over a course of time.  They have attained a certain type of knowledge that only comes from experience.  By its nature, this level of authority cannot be achieved quickly.
The follower gives TRUST on this level.
It is quite possible for people to love their leaders but not fully trust their competency in certain areas.  It doesn’t mean that the leader has done anything wrong; it simply means that they are unproven.  Over time, however, leader can earn trust as they display greater degrees of competency through experience.

Level #4:  Moral Authority
This level represents what the leader endures over time.  Eventually, all organizations face crisis.  It could be an attack from within or from without.  When this occurs, all eyes are on the leader to see how they are going to handle the stress; the betrayal; the moral dilemma; the ethical situation; the conflict, etc.  When leaders hold firm to their ethics and their character stays intact during a crisis, they achieve Moral Authority.  This represents a new dimension of authority that gives the leader the right to speak and act in a variety of situations.
The followers give RESPECT on this level.
While people may love a leader because of who they are, they respect a leader for what he/she does.  Respect is earned by a leader’s conduct through troubles and trials.  When leaders achieve respect through Moral Authority, they can lead people to places that were otherwise impossible.

Level #5:  Parental Authority
This is the highest level of authority that a leader can achieve.  It represents a place where leaders reproduce themselves in others.  Like any good parent, leaders on this level have a desire to see their children achieve more than they have.
The follower gives HONOR on this level.
When followers see a parental attitude in their leaders, they want to be like them.  They will honor them through replication.  One of the Ten Commandments in the Bible says to honor your father and your mother.  In these days of fallen leaders, one can’t help but wonder if people have very many examples like this to follow.  Let’s hope so!
…And let us commit ourselves to be one of them!