Respecting Authority

Without respect for authority, nothing holds together and nobody learns from anyone. The Mature Warrior recognizes legitimate authority, follows good leadership, and learns from people who've been where he hasn't. But his respect isn't mindless. He gives it to people who've earned their position and demonstrated real wisdom.

The Mercenary respects only power and follows whoever is strongest. The Critic respects no authority—he evaluates every leader from the sidelines and finds them all lacking, but never steps up to lead himself. The Mature Warrior respects legitimate authority while maintaining his own integrity.

Respecting authority requires several capacities:

Discernment: The Warrior distinguishes legitimate authority from mere power. He respects earned position and demonstrated wisdom.

Humility: The Warrior acknowledges that others know more than he does. He remains a student even as a leader.

Followership: The Warrior follows well when appropriate. He supports legitimate leadership rather than undermining it.

Learning: The Warrior treats every authority relationship as a chance to grow. He pulls whatever wisdom he can from the people who've been at it longer.

Integrity: The Warrior maintains his values while respecting authority. He refuses orders that violate his ethics.

Appropriate challenge: The Warrior respectfully challenges authority when needed. He doesn't confuse respect with silence.

This kind of respect keeps things running. When warriors respect the people who've earned their position, organizations work. Knowledge actually gets passed down instead of dying with each generation.

The Warrior who gets this right takes what he can learn from the people above him, backs good leaders, and keeps his own integrity intact within the chain of command. He doesn't salute every order like a robot, and he doesn't rebel just because someone tells him what to do.