A quick search on google for the keywords "Authority Vs Responsibility" results into the following statement
Authority refers to the legal right of the Manager to give orders and expect the obedience from subordinates. On the other hand, responsibility is the corollary i.e. result of the authority. While authority is delegated, by the superior to subordinates, responsibility is assumed i.e. it is inherent in the task assigned. That’s a very politically correct definition of the terms.
In the above statement Manager refers to anyone who Manages a team of people. In the literal sense Management is the art of getting work done from others, and on the same lines Manager is someone who is responsible for getting work done from his subordinates. Did you notice the word responsible in the last sentence? So, a Manager has Authority, but he is r-e-s-p-o-n-s-i-b-l-e for getting the work done. The point I am trying to make here is same as the famous saying, "With great power comes greater responsibility". Power and Authority are two sides of the same coin, so it can be said that with Authority comes responsibility.
I would like to take this one step ahead and say that only those who can understand the responsibility part correctly, would be able to succeed in their Authority. To me if someone has an authority, he has double the responsibility and if the authority is not used correctly it turns out into a liability.
Let's understand this with an example from Cricket. There was this time when Greg Chappell the great Australian cricketer was asked to assume the responsibility of being a coach for team India. He got the authority and without understanding the consequences he started ordering to execute his commands on the Indian cricket team. Indian team that time was star studded with the likes of Sachin, Dravid, Sehwag, Laxman, Kumble, Srinath, Harbhajan, Yuvraj and all those great players. He kept experimenting with the batting order and did really micro manage on things that otherwise could have been left alone. Now, do we really need to coach a team with the likes of such great players? The answer is a big NO. All they needed was some guidance and follow a strategy by choosing right man for every task they wanted to execute. But, Greg Chappell with his attitude spoiled it all. The result was for everyone to see. In World cup 2007, we lost to Bangladesh and Srilanka and was an early exit for a team that was considered as having the potential to lift the cup. Fortunately, the BCCI did not have to continue with Greg Chappell and he put in his resignation with India's exit from the World cup. Next, Gary Kirsten the South African great was asked to assume the seat vacated by Greg Chappell. Gary on the contrary to Greg had a method of his own. He gelled with the team so well and he was able to motivate the same team to again perform to their full potential once more. The result of that was evident on April 2, 2011, i.e. the final of the World cup. India won the world cup after 28 years. So, the example shows, how the difference of attitude to take the authority given as a responsibility can change the whole picture. Same team, two different people with different attitudes and the result was completely different.
Attitude is of real importance when dealing with any living thing. Even a dog can understand whether you are talking to him politely or with arrogance in your voice. The key thing to understand here is, authority is wrapped in a different clothing, but deep within it is actually nothing but responsibility. One may think that he is getting the work done with his Authority, but, unless there is a politeness in your voice and attitude, people may do the work for the sake of it, but, eventually, we may not get the quality that we are seeking. Again, there is very thin line in finding the difference between being polite and being authoritative. There must be a correct balance always so that one side do not get heavy on the other. Putting long story short, Authority can only succeed when used with the right attitude and when there is a realization of the responsibility attached to the Authority.
Authority refers to the legal right of the Manager to give orders and expect the obedience from subordinates. On the other hand, responsibility is the corollary i.e. result of the authority. While authority is delegated, by the superior to subordinates, responsibility is assumed i.e. it is inherent in the task assigned. That’s a very politically correct definition of the terms.
In the above statement Manager refers to anyone who Manages a team of people. In the literal sense Management is the art of getting work done from others, and on the same lines Manager is someone who is responsible for getting work done from his subordinates. Did you notice the word responsible in the last sentence? So, a Manager has Authority, but he is r-e-s-p-o-n-s-i-b-l-e for getting the work done. The point I am trying to make here is same as the famous saying, "With great power comes greater responsibility". Power and Authority are two sides of the same coin, so it can be said that with Authority comes responsibility.
I would like to take this one step ahead and say that only those who can understand the responsibility part correctly, would be able to succeed in their Authority. To me if someone has an authority, he has double the responsibility and if the authority is not used correctly it turns out into a liability.
Let's understand this with an example from Cricket. There was this time when Greg Chappell the great Australian cricketer was asked to assume the responsibility of being a coach for team India. He got the authority and without understanding the consequences he started ordering to execute his commands on the Indian cricket team. Indian team that time was star studded with the likes of Sachin, Dravid, Sehwag, Laxman, Kumble, Srinath, Harbhajan, Yuvraj and all those great players. He kept experimenting with the batting order and did really micro manage on things that otherwise could have been left alone. Now, do we really need to coach a team with the likes of such great players? The answer is a big NO. All they needed was some guidance and follow a strategy by choosing right man for every task they wanted to execute. But, Greg Chappell with his attitude spoiled it all. The result was for everyone to see. In World cup 2007, we lost to Bangladesh and Srilanka and was an early exit for a team that was considered as having the potential to lift the cup. Fortunately, the BCCI did not have to continue with Greg Chappell and he put in his resignation with India's exit from the World cup. Next, Gary Kirsten the South African great was asked to assume the seat vacated by Greg Chappell. Gary on the contrary to Greg had a method of his own. He gelled with the team so well and he was able to motivate the same team to again perform to their full potential once more. The result of that was evident on April 2, 2011, i.e. the final of the World cup. India won the world cup after 28 years. So, the example shows, how the difference of attitude to take the authority given as a responsibility can change the whole picture. Same team, two different people with different attitudes and the result was completely different.
Attitude is of real importance when dealing with any living thing. Even a dog can understand whether you are talking to him politely or with arrogance in your voice. The key thing to understand here is, authority is wrapped in a different clothing, but deep within it is actually nothing but responsibility. One may think that he is getting the work done with his Authority, but, unless there is a politeness in your voice and attitude, people may do the work for the sake of it, but, eventually, we may not get the quality that we are seeking. Again, there is very thin line in finding the difference between being polite and being authoritative. There must be a correct balance always so that one side do not get heavy on the other. Putting long story short, Authority can only succeed when used with the right attitude and when there is a realization of the responsibility attached to the Authority.
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