The other day I read an email where someone was referred to as an authority figure. Now, while they are in a leadership role, I had never considered that they had "authority" over me. When I, in the past, had been in that role I had never thought of it as a position of authority either. I had, however, thought of it as being a role model.
As adults many of us have experienced authority issues in our past. We have had many people in our lives exert authority over us for a variety of reasons. In the case of our parents it was probably to keep us safe, or teach us the family rules, or to stop us from doing the things that they feared would cause us some type of damage. Teachers needed to keep us under control, after all they were surrounded by …show more content…
Role models are examples of appropriate behavior. They teach others by showing them how it 's done. I know that as a teacher of adults they have always responded to me as a role model much more enthusiastically then they ever would as an authority figure. And I am much more comfortable as a role model as well. As a role model I can approach life with integrity and honesty. I can be fair and compassionate. An authority figure is more of a "do as I say" position. They often must make decisions that will disempower others. Role models teach people what to do and then hold them accountable; authority figures tell people what to do and then punish them if they don 't meet the expectations of the …show more content…
We might still have to tell someone what to do, "call 911" is an example of the need to be a little bossy at times, or asking someone to behave differently for the good of all. Even saying "come out with your hands up" are words that can be spoken as a role model.
How do you respond to others? Do you accept what others have to share with you when they come from a position of authority rather than as a model of behavior? Most of us are very resistant to that! We don 't like being bossed around because we know that it isn 't an appropriate way to treat others. It is the way of the Great Ego, not the way of the Lover of Life.
Being a role model can be a challenging idea. It requires that we be more responsible for our own behaviors, and that we act, speak, and respond in appropriate ways. As role models we treat others the way we ourselves want and deserve to be treated, with respect, trust, and honesty.
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As adults many of us have experienced authority issues in our past. We have had many people in our lives exert authority over us for a variety of reasons. In the case of our parents it was probably to keep us safe, or teach us the family rules, or to stop us from doing the things that they feared would cause us some type of damage. Teachers needed to keep us under control, after all they were surrounded by …show more content…
Role models are examples of appropriate behavior. They teach others by showing them how it 's done. I know that as a teacher of adults they have always responded to me as a role model much more enthusiastically then they ever would as an authority figure. And I am much more comfortable as a role model as well. As a role model I can approach life with integrity and honesty. I can be fair and compassionate. An authority figure is more of a "do as I say" position. They often must make decisions that will disempower others. Role models teach people what to do and then hold them accountable; authority figures tell people what to do and then punish them if they don 't meet the expectations of the …show more content…
We might still have to tell someone what to do, "call 911" is an example of the need to be a little bossy at times, or asking someone to behave differently for the good of all. Even saying "come out with your hands up" are words that can be spoken as a role model.
How do you respond to others? Do you accept what others have to share with you when they come from a position of authority rather than as a model of behavior? Most of us are very resistant to that! We don 't like being bossed around because we know that it isn 't an appropriate way to treat others. It is the way of the Great Ego, not the way of the Lover of Life.
Being a role model can be a challenging idea. It requires that we be more responsible for our own behaviors, and that we act, speak, and respond in appropriate ways. As role models we treat others the way we ourselves want and deserve to be treated, with respect, trust, and honesty.
Article Source: