People follow authority without knowing. The authority doesn’t even have to be an expert in the field. They follow fake authorities, such as an actor with a lab coat playing a doctor role in advertisements, influencing people’s health decisions. People confuse expertise with authority signs. Titles also give clues about authority that make people follow them without considering expertise. I observe this at work, too. People sometimes follow what I’m saying even though I am not an expert in the area—just because I’m a manager.
- Related Note(s):
- Don’t build up an ego when people follow you even though you are not an expert.
- Accountability culture ensures that expertise is separated from authority.
- When someone writes a book about a topic, it doesn’t mean they are right. The book gives them authority; however, it may not be the reality—the same applies to LLMs; they are not the authority.
- When listening to investment advice, be mindful about who advises you.
- To establish authority, some vulnerability has to be visible first.
- Source(s): Influence by Robert B. Cialdini
