Response-ability - Tumblr Posts

Authority

Let me clear up a common misconception:

Being in a position of authority DOES NOT mean that you are always right. It means that you have proven yourself to be less wrong than the rest of us on a regular basis, and that we trust you with responsibilities where being wrong can be hazardous.

Authority is a position of power, yes, but it comes with a price: making sure we stay organized and don't fail. Since failure could possibly mean death, we expect you to be right most of the time. Just because we expect it of you, however, does not mean you are right automatically.

If you are wrong - and, being human, you will be wrong - it is our responsibility to show you. You will be called out because of it in front of everyone you have influence over, and it is your responsibility to say "I'm sorry," rather than "you're all wrong and I'm right." In fact, if you say such a thing, or show it by your actions, we will probably remove you from your position of power, because we can't trust you to be less wrong than the rest of us anymore.

Yet with all this responsibility packed into this job description, authority is still a highly sought-after position of pride and power instead of humility (for God knows why). The humility part of it keeps you level-headed so you don't make rash decisions that are most likely wrong.

I'm not trying to say that you can't afford to be wrong. What I am trying to say is that you shouldn't expect to be right. Keep your head in the game so we don't have to deal with you being wrong and arrogant.