pulling rank
Using status advantage
Pulling rank is using one's superior position to override others or get one's way, especially when the authority seems excessive for the situation.
A manager who insists on the corner office because she's a vice president is pulling rank.
The phrase often carries a negative connotation—implying the person couldn't win on merit alone: I hate when he pulls rank instead of just making a good argument.
- abuse of powerMisusing entrusted authority
- power moveSuperiority-asserting action
- superiorityHigher rank or quality
- chain of commandFormal authority hierarchy
- corporate ladderOrganizational rank structure
order · yes sir · influence · entitlement · favoritism · assertiveness · stripes · exploitation · subordinate · coercion · browbeating · arrogance · fairness · power trip · big man on campus · accountability · command · authority figure
- power tacticspower play, power grab, strong-arm, strong-arming, strongarm
pulling rankdeferring
Postponing or yielding respectfully
yielding · stepping back · bowing out · taking a back seat · submitting
pulling rankleading by example
Teaching through demonstration
persuading · convincing · inspiring · servant leadership · making a case
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