If you notice a company of little children playing together, you can effortlessly tell the leader if the group is. A question always comes to mind, is the leader the most powerful? Typically, it has been believed that power functions with leadership. Although, in some situations, the power results in leadership. In any case, the two are complicatedly inter-connection and a basis of confusion for individuals who do not entirely understand the notion. This article explores the differences between power and leadership, though they are often synonyms.
What is Power?
When you were a child, your dad and mum greatly affected you, and you attempted to emulate their social manners to obtain credit from them. The same thing is the situation with your tutors; you try to do something that would bring praise or honour for you from them. Although, in all these three instances listed above, the acquired power causes these individuals to be exceptional and not because they are leaders. Your parents are your parents’ sane way with your tutors. These roles are roles of authority, and we heed and obey them due to fear and love. It is also volitional, for instance, back when people bow down to kings and royalties. Authority makes use of acquired power to provide guidance and safety to individuals. This is the power a leader in a firm possesses over his workers. Workers heed his rulings and obey his teachings due to fear. This is as well the situation of formal power and superiority. Power is vital in politics. There are instances where beginners have inherited severe power and authority by the integrity of being a child of a president, royalty, or prime minister. In nations where the organization of the army is an influential one occupying the second power centre, army chiefs are as influential as the prime minister or the president and have taken charge of the rulings of the nations staging a coup. Absolute power corrupts ultimately, and power corrupts. This is a common notion, although it is much more possible that corrupt individuals tend to get enticed to power and misuse it for their benefit.
What is Leadership?
Leadership is an attribute that a person has starting when he was a child or grew up in the company of others. Leadership in monarchies is known to be inherited and therefore gotten. Still, when it comes to democracy, individuals who possess leadership characteristics climb in prestige and compete in elections to win as the leader of a nation. When we assume the leaders in the last centuries, the pictures of Adolph Hitler, Nelson Mandela, Colonel Gaddafi, Saddam Hussein, and Mahatma Gandhi come to our minds. While some of these leaders are universally noted as perfect leaders who acquired their power and administration from the individuals they ruled, the other three are leaders who acknowledged whipping conflict and leading by intimidating their people. George Washington, the first president of the USA, battled elections just reluctantly for the second time and vehemently declined to be the president for the 3rd time. Finding a man who can reject power to rule a nation to farm in his home city is difficult.
Difference Between Leadership and Power
- Power is acquired from roles of authority, whereas leadership is a quality that does not need power.
- Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela had no power, but they were incredible leaders, and their devotees were willing to do anything these men requested for.
- Leadership motivates and earns supporters, but power terrorizes and causes individuals to heed instructions out of fear.