Authority and Competence

Overview
The piece discusses the relationship between authority and competence in leadership, explaining why having authority without competence can erode trust, and how competence without authority limits influence. It offers practical guidance for technical leaders to develop both aspects.

Key Takeaways

• Authority alone is insufficient; competence must back it up to earn credibility.
• Transparent communication and demonstrated expertise strengthen a leader's authority.
• Developing technical skills alongside soft-skills enhances influence in engineering teams.
• Delegating wisely and empowering others sustains competence at scale.

Who Would Benefit

• Engineering managers seeking to improve their leadership presence.
• Technical leads wanting to balance technical depth with decision-making authority.
• New managers learning how to build trust with their teams.
• Senior leaders aiming to mentor high-performing engineers.

Frameworks and Methodologies

• Situational Leadership (adapting authority level to team maturity).
• Competence Mapping (identifying skill gaps and development paths).