Borrowed Authority: The Hidden Crisis Behind ‘Good’ to Great Managers

Most managers don’t fail because they’re incapable. They fail because the authority they appeared to hold was never theirs to begin with. In organizations that reward loyalty over leadership and alignment over authorship, borrowed authority thrives. It performs well—until the scaffolding disappears. And then, quietly, the system begins to stall. This isn’t a talent issue. It’s a design flaw. One that costs you culture, credibility, and your best people.