Authority and Power

Authority and Power

Power is a broader concept, and it is the ability of individuals or groups to induce or influence the beliefs or actions of other people of groups.  In the corporate environment, power is often expressed as upward or downward. With downward power, a company's superior influences subordinates. When a company exerts upward power, it is the subordinates who influence the decisions of the leaders.

Authority in an organization is the right to exercise the power in making decisions that may affect others. Authority is one type of power, but a power in the organizational setting. It is the legitimate or acceptable use of power.