THEORY 85
WEBER’S TRIPARTITE CLASSIFICATION OF AUTHORITY
Use to identify the different forms of authority that are available to you as a manager.
Max Weber identified three sources of authority or power. These were charismatic, traditional and legal-rational.
- Charismatic authority is defined by Weber as an ‘extraordinary and personal gift of grace’ (charisma) given only to a few. Staff are drawn to charismatic managers and believe that they are highly capable, have special abilities and can be trusted to deliver on their promises.
- Traditional authority or power is based on inheritance. It can be held by individuals, families, elites and ...
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