How to Succeed with People in Authority
Don’t expect advancement while resisting or opposing people in authority.
Success within organizations is determined by people with authority. They authorize raises, promotions, and determine who participates in high value projects.
12 ways to succeed with people in authority:
- Be a person of value. Make a positive contribution every chance you have.
- Allow authorities to define value. What is valuable to you may be a waste to them.
- Align with their goals – work to achieve their objectives.
- Respect their time. Be brief, concise, and practical.
- Provide facts and figures. Your opinion matters, the facts matter more.
- Disagree with respect.
- Offer alternatives, rather than opposition.
- Always row with, even if you disagreed during the decision-making process.
- Determine how to make things work. Don’t be a person who constantly explains what won’t work.
- Don’t ask them to spend political capital on you. When you screw up, you lower your leader’s status. When you don’t follow through, you drain a bit of their political capital.
- Be steady, not emotional.
- Serve others. Don’t build silos and kingdoms.
Get on your leader’s team if you expect them to be on yours.
Integrity:
Seek the highest good of your organization, even if it isn’t what’s best for you personally. Don’t compromise ethical standards for authorities.
What’s required to succeed with people in authority?
what about the boss who is just wrong… I think everyone has had one….
Thanks Bill. That’s a boss of a different color, isn’t it? So much depends on how they respond to disagreement. Will it matter? Should you just move on? How important is the issue? Is it an ethical issue?
I guess it boils down to – duty is to please your boss, if that’s not ethical – find a new boss. Thanks for making me think it out.
The post is all about Authority as a one-way street. The 21st Century organization — is still that way; people have not changed. Rule #2 – in case the boss is wrong, apply rule #1.
Thanks Douglas. There are still many organization where authority is a one-way street. Organizations where the founders are running the show is one case in point.
Great use of rule #1.
We might also stay open to the idea that we are wrong, even when we think they are wrong. Just a thought.
Outstanding post that cuts to the chase about real life in most organizations – particularly local law enforcement agencies like those I worked in for over forty years. Great advice for the new employee!
Thanks Jim. You remind me that if we work in hierarchical or authority driven organizations, learning to deal with authority is essential to success. One of the challenges is we bristle when we have to adapt to others, especially if they are in authority. I’m just poking the box a little.
While I agree to tips given regarding ways to succeed with Authority, what to do with Authoritarian Authority who never wants to listen and does not stand up for the team when it matters? It is easy to say that you need to practice . Every one has the organisations goals at mind and would love to work for betterment of the Organisation so that they also grow. But situations and environment needs to be conducive .
Thanks Subramanian. There are lousy leaders out there. I’m not sure we should waste our time trying to change them, when we work for them. It’s a loser for everyone. If we can’t adapt to them, start looking for a new position.
I’ll add that the skills we learn while working for lousy leaders may take us far in other situations.
Those aren’t supposed to be labeled leaders.
This post sits uneasily with me. Maybe my interpretation but is it advocating ‘kiss arse’ politicing? Leading to narrow views and straight jacketed conversations?
Thanks Dave. It sits uneasy with me, too. I’m glad you joined in. I resist authority. I think many leaders are in the same boat. We don’t like being told what to do. But, we all deal with authorities and boards. I think back on the way I resisted authority, when I was younger, and realize that I hindered myself. There were better ways.
How to influence people with authority is a real challenge.
Good morning Dan;
What an absolutley wonderful list of 12 Way’s to Succeed. The really nice thing is, these principals, this approach to dealing with Authority Figures, is as useful in the Church & Community as well our families.
Common sence, sound advice will ‘never’ go out of stlye. Nor will concidering the thoughts and feelings of others as we navigate through our daily lives.
“Boy, if a guy was building say, ‘a Leadership Development Training Program’, a list like this could come in mighty handy!” (Things that make you go, ‘Hmmm’…) LOL
Hava uh GREAT Monday my freind!
Cheers Dan
SGT Steve
Thanks SGT. Well, “IF” a guy was building a Leadership Development Training Program, he might want to take these ideas an run with them. 🙂
Cheers!
Dear Dan,
Good interesting points to be in the good eyes of people with authority. The best thing is to do your work sincerely and never enter into disagreements leading to riffles of any sort.
We need not however be ‘a yes man’ all the time. There is always a limit to your trying to be in good books of people in authority. You shouldn’t loose your self-respect and become the favorite of bosses. You are otherwise at their mercy and the victim of humiliation.
Adaptability is always good and desirable yet remain professional with sincerity.
Thanks Dr. Asher. The combination of your first two paragraphs is powerful. Work hard and don’t be disagreeable. Don’t be a yes-man and lose yourself.
This article describes how an oranization can succeed. Leadership capacity requires collaboration and organizational loyalty.
Thanks Alene. You brought two important terms together, collaboration and loyalty.
LOL. When your boss forwards this post to all his employees.
Dan the ultimate upper authority is usually the Board of Directors. When talking to a Director, I tell people the following:
1. Maintain eye contact
2. Calmly correct their frequent misconceptions or confusion
3. Show no fear, they are just people too!
Brad
Brad James, blogger http://www.bradszootales.com
Dear Dan,
How to succeed with people in authority is a challenging issue. Out of many ways suggested, I liked disagree with respect, offer alternatives, rather than opposition and serve others, Do not build silos and kingdoms. These points are so powerful. They are enough to deal with many problems. Making silos become dominant when people start feeling pressure or fear about their jobs. But in any case, it is always suggestive to go with the system unless one has fully understood the entire system well. If a person does not find his dream met in long run, it is always better to explore ways outside.
The statement ” Success within organizations is determined by people with authority” is equally powerful statement. It also provides clue whether person wants to succeed within the organisation or outside the organisation. Many times, it becomes better to look outside when organisation does not provide much scope. Conformity with people in power is required to succeed with people in authority. But it has its blind side as well. Conformity that compel to engage into undesired and unethical activities is always calamitous. It is important to evaluate with conformity means.
I’ve found the following to be helpful (consistent with a couple of suggestions on your list: Stop by, call, text, or email (person of authority’s preference) with a request for a meeting on a topic; then ask if it would be helpful for you to send your ideas – before the meeting or before any decision on meeting!!!