The Role of Authoritative Leadership in Voluntary Organizations

Authority is central to leadership dynamics in many voluntary organizations. Leadership is authoritative when subordinates willingly obey because they believe a leader’s orders or directions represent followers’ self-interest and also the larger mission of the organization or institution. It is contrasted with leadership that is based on coercion or explicit exchange or an economic contract. Authoritative leaders may have expertise followers respect, they may express religious symbols and principles, or they may express the democratic consensus of a group. Authority is central to the dynamics of schools, churches, medical institutions, and many self-help groups. It also has a long tradition as a concept central in sociological and political analysis of institutions.This paper applies the theory of authority to empirical studies of voluntary organizations conducted by the author. These include studies of emergency medicine, the Episcopal Church, special education, nontraditional elementary education, and community self-help organizations. We learn that three tasks are critical for authoritative leaders: (1) they must help subordinates further learning and personal development. (2) They must support cooperate, interdependent task groups. (3) They must develop the myth of the organization and lead symbolic, ritual events that make the specific activities of the organization seem important in terms of larger life issues and concerns.