Power Construction and Informal Authority in Collectively Led Organizational Frameworks

Mochamad Irfan; Yusuf Rahman  Al-Hakim

Authors

Mochamad Irfan University of Mayjen Sungkono, Mojokerto
Yusuf Rahman Al-Hakim Universitas Mayjen Sungkono Mojokerto

Keywords:

collective leadership, informal power, discourse, legitimacy, organizational trust, distributed governance, relational influence

Abstract

This literature-based inquiry investigates how power operates within organizations that implement collective leadership. Drawing on interdisciplinary sources from organizational theory, sociology, and leadership studies, the review identifies how influence persists even in the absence of formal hierarchies. Key variables such as discursive control, social capital, symbolic leadership, and boundary management are analyzed to understand how authority is reconstituted under egalitarian models. Rather than being eliminated, power is redistributed and often concealed within relational practices, agenda framing, and access to critical resources. The findings demonstrate that collective governance requires intentional safeguards against the emergence of informal domination, as shared leadership alone does not guarantee equitable participation. The review suggests that sustainable shared authority depends on structural clarity, reflective coordination, and ethical vigilance. These insights inform leadership practices across cooperatives, civic platforms, and mission-driven institutions.

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