At the beginning of the work, it would probably be good to think about what authority is. In the dictionary lies under the word authority: recognized seriousness, respect, decisive influence or power.
If we look at a slightly more comprehensive description, it may look like this: authority can also refer to the person whose decisions other members of the group follow. And also the relationship to which such decisions, advice and attitudes are expected. One may view authority as a factor with certain power and direction that directly proportionally determines the predominance of one person over the opponent or the person with whom they speak.
When I thought about authority, I thought of a few questions. One: Why is everyone trying so hard to have authority? It is quite understandable that people who run different societies, do scientific research and have a large part in making decisions about important things, need to be taken seriously by their subordinates, and they need to do what needs to be done. For this, authority is necessary.
If such a person has the right authority in charge, then the work under his leadership entertains the subordinate. It can stimulate him to perform better and better. It can also provide him with an example of how to build his own authority.
If a person in a leadership position has little authority, in my opinion, he lacks some qualities important for this function. Subordinates do not have to respect him, he can become a frequent target of ridicule and slander. People can only notice his negative qualities. On the other hand, if the superior is too authoritative, people may become afraid of him. This can create an atmosphere of tension in the workplace and among colleagues. This atmosphere then leads to one thing - the creation of severe stress.
I think there are two main reasons why people are too authoritative. The first: it is part of the personality of such a person and is basically justified by his actions and attitude. The other reason: in his private life, such a person behaves submissively, feels humiliated, and thus wants to create a stronger position at least in employment. As in most cases, the golden middle way is best. So having the authority is just right.
Many deterrent examples of great and abused authority can be found in history. For all of them, I would list two who have made history quite indelibly: Adolf Hitler and J.V. Stalin. They could both use their authority and power to the benefit of mankind, but instead chose to kill innocents, destroy and hate. These two men were able to negatively affect hundreds of thousands of people, destroying the lives of millions of people.
However, I would like to include two personalities who also had great authority but used it in the best way possible. I am thinking of former Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa, who (and, of course, many others) showed the world and the people that life should be used for the good and help of others. For others, they left the best example of how to live and how we can use our authority.
The second question that came to me: how does one actually gain authority?
The first way is probably the best, but that's why it's also the hardest. To gain authority gradually - according to our actions. However, I am referring to an act that respects others, does not consider itself the best person, can act assertively, accepts compromises and is empathetic. Such a person should also have an overview of the world and knowledge in his field, should be able to admit his mistake and be willing to help others. Other qualities one should have in order to gain authority are reliability, truthfulness, honesty and reasonable self-confidence.
It's quite a lot, and I'm sure there's a lot to add to it, but if you can do that, you're on track to gain authority. I think that if a person has such qualities and behaves in this way (or at least tries to do so), he can gain authority and respect in an incomparably better way than if he were terrified.
The second option for someone to gain authority is a "badass" look. One who dresses more than eccentrically has piercings almost everywhere, green hair, (and much more), can inspire authority and respect in most people almost instantly. But I don't think it's the authority of admiration, it's rather fear. We often avoid such a person. We're afraid he'll hurt us, and we prefer to ignore him and ignore him.
I guess that's what we do from other people's experiences or our own. Many crimes have been committed by people of this appearance. But on the other hand, I know that we cannot judge or should judge anyone by the way they dress or by how they otherwise "improve" their appearance.
Such a person wants to express his attitude and opinion about the world or his dissatisfaction. And that he does it that way? - If he's not hurting others and destroying property - just like we all have different fantasies, different ideas about life and our unmistakable fingerprints, then each of us has a specific way of expressing it. Maybe a little detour from the subject, but I thought it was important to write it down here.
Another way to gain authority is to create it for life. For example, a nurse can create a very strong authority over time, thanks to her abilities, diligence, empathy and striving. Then she can work her way up to head nurse, manager, and if she wants to go further and has an overview of politics, she could also become Health Minister.
And if a person with healthy self-esteem, single-mindedness, and the right level of authority were to get into that position, she could change so many things for the good, help so many people and many others to point the way. That would make the best use of her life as good as an ordinary nurse who will love to help those who need it. You could say that about almost every profession. Another question that came to my name with authority is: how did authority change in the course of the development of human society?
I'm not sure authority can be talked about in the context of prehistoric times. But in Egypt's glory days, the pharaoh had the greatest authority. I think few of these rulers had authority because of their good qualities. Rather, they gained it through their power over others, conquered territory, wealth, the family to which they were born, and cruel behaviour towards subjects. They showed respect to many deities here. But I wouldn't call it authority in the truest sense of the word.
The situation in Rome was very similar. Here, too, emperors and men gained authority because of their wealth, the number of slaves, how important they were at the time, the conquered territory, and the cruel treatment towards men; here, too, they had many gods to whom they showed respect.
Perhaps the same could be said of China and India.
In the next period - if I skip "a few years" a bit - the Church had great authority. Unfortunately, it sometimes abused it. It was doing what it wasn't supposed to do, what God would never want. Whether it was an aching right or later indulgences and witch hunts.
If I skip "a few years" again and get to this day - frankly - the nature of authority has changed a lot. Whether it's an authority in school, in the family, an authority among the younger and older, and many other examples.
If we look at the situation in schools, it is often hard to believe what is happening. The days when pupils had to sit on benches with their hands behind their backs are long gone. Nowadays, pupils allow themselves to do almost anything: talk back to the teacher, not listen, do things on time, swear in their eyes and so much more. In some schools, teachers fear for their own lives. There have been several instances where a pupil attacked teachers and classmates and even killed them.
I think a big part of the decline of authority is in the media, where moral values are sometimes ridiculed and violence itself is shown. There are a lot of pupils who are literally tormenting their teachers, but also a whole range of educators who are also not being as they should. They sit down with a particular pupil and make him or her a hassle and inconvenience, which makes his or her stay at school bitter and makes his or her education an ordeal.
However, this does not only apply to the relationship between teachers and pupils, but also to the education system in general. In every bag, there are rotten apples, so good and bad people are found everywhere and in all occupations.
An overall summary of authority at school? I feel like it's still sinking. I really don't know what's going to happen to improve the level of pupil behaviour. Introducing body punishment does not seem to me to be a good solution.
I remembered what our elementary school teacher was talking about. It was about a day after a student attacked a teacher. She said that a few years later, the teacher would be dressed in a special suit, sitting behind a department with a bulletproof glass pane in front of them. They're coming down a special hallway for an hour. The idea is comical, but when we think about it, it's something terrible. I sincerely hope that never happens. I also hope for one more thing: that the pupil's "hatred" for the teacher will remain within the limits of the fact that we are scolding (or shouting) over a notebook and a substance that we are not good at. The next day at school, the teacher doesn't know anything about us. And since we're all hard-working students, we get the best grade possible from the fabric.
The authority in the family also changed as time passed. I think it's for the better, but also the worse. A few decades ago, children had great respect for their parents. My parents had great authority. This was manifested, among other things, by children talking to and about their parents. The children listened to their parents' word. They were entering into an arranged marriage, which seems to me to be one of the worst things of the time. Parents wanted their children to have the best possible time, to be secured, to have a home, always to eat and hoped to be happy.
They didn't care much about love. The children had two choices: either agree to the will of the parents, or disobey, and run away from home. In the latter case, however, they could not expect an easy life. Since the young had no means, they had to start from scratch. They had to do any hard work, even at the lowest wages, just to make a living. Today, the situation has improved, at least in civilized countries.
Nowadays, children allow themselves to stay easy and free with their parents because it is a different time. Another reason maybe is that most parents are too busy to be devoted to their children. Nowadays, it places increasing demands on people and this brings with it more stress. Some children do not see their parents most of the time and therefore do not even know their opinions. Parents can only play the role of "sponsors". Children have nowhere to take the right role model, and that decreases the authority of parents. Then school and friends take over the upbringing. These friends tend to be an authority for them. But I think they're more likely to be stronger, stand out in something negative, and don't take morale into account. Who is not to their liking; becomes a bully. It's always been incomprehensible to me that these people are the leaders of the group. There are also bright exceptions that have the right authority and can set a good example for children.
However, there are also parents who devote themselves to their children and give them a good example of keeping their promises, being able to admit their mistake, listen to them and take them appropriately according to their age. If a child can see such a pattern in parents with the right degree of authority, it will positively affect their development, and the child will grow into a person who can assert himself in life and can be a role model for his own offspring.
The final question I asked myself is: who has or should have authority? I'm of the opinion that not all people have authority. Not everyone can stand up for their own, not everyone can keep their promises and keep many other things that I wrote about at the beginning. And that's why they can't create the right authority. People can't appreciate them, and they don't take them seriously.
Authority is most important to those who are supposed to raise and care for others. This means mainly the authority of parents, at school, at work and in other places. Another group of people who should certainly have authority are politicians.
I'm sure each of us has our own opinion about the situation in our republic. So I think it would be pointless to break down my opinion here. All I have to do is to write that this is not how I imagine true politics.
One should cultivate and create one's authority in such a way that one is satisfied with one's own. But at the same time, so as not to limit others and hurt them, and to be a good role model for them. Authority is one of the things by which we can influence. Because only we can decide one thing: what we do with the time we have been given; a person who uses his life for others will live a full life. It is certain that it will not always be pink, there will be difficulties, problems, worries, but it leaves a wonderful feeling that we have not wasted our time and done something good. We did something that helped a neighbour who needed our help.
And authority can also help us help others even more. Thanks to it, we can get to a higher position, and thus we can get our ideas from the people who are wiser than us to realize, or at least try to make them happen.
Even if success doesn't come right away, it's good to realize that "even a drop makes the sea."
