Being Explicit: Establishment of Authority

 You should already know, but it helps a lot to say these things out loud, and it hasn't been done before. Assumptions are kept implicit on purpose to protect them from legitimate challenges, except when I don't permit them to be kept implicit.

 There are two major modes of establishing authority, depending on whether there is a higher authority. 

 If there is no higher authority, then establishing authority is warfare. You do whatever it takes, or rather whatever you are willing to do and can afford, and the other side sees identical constraints. Whoever wins seizes the authority. The loser can surrender or die. There is a third option, detente; if neither side can afford to seize the whole jurisdiction, it can be partitioned. 

 If there is a higher authority, you either have to declare war and contest its claim, or accept that claim and work within the bounds set by that authority. If you take a job, the job's authority is deputized from the higher authority, and it behooves you not to challenge the authority on which your own depends. In this case, basically establishing authority is still warfare. If someone who is supposed to be a subordinate tries to rebel, you must use force against them. However, it is limited warfare, usually sharply limited. Since you must respect the higher authority, it also behooves you to understand exactly what the higher authority believes the limits are. If a subordinate cannot be controlled within those limits, then send the issue up the chain. 

 If the higher authority refuses to be clear on those limits, try running. Screaming also encouraged. Sprint for the hills. Alternatively, declare war on the higher authority.
 Such ambiguities are profoundly disqualifying. Wholly illegitimate. Pure, absolute profanity. The alleged high is already low, so ask the heavens to let you help realign spiritual reality and physical appearances.