#9b: Options and constraints inherent in different sources of leadership power.

The source of a leader's power provides different options to achieve the same goal in any given situation. What matter is their leadership type — leading with or without authority — not their style, which is unique.

Consider an unsustainable work environment that is driving employees to overwork and burnout. A leader with authority can step up, take the blame for the situation, and set a new policy. In fact, this is what many may expect of them.

If you lead without authority, you may be not empowered to explicitly set a new policy. Instead you can step back and help the system collapse (so that the process of rebuilding can begin sooner).

Note that authority can constrain as well as provide options. Followers may expect their leader to take action, and could be unhappy with an otherwise reasonable path of inaction. Precedent matters.


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