In your opinion, what is more important: skill or authority? And in case they contradict which of them will have the upper hand?

Thanks for invitation,

As a matter of fact, and in my opinion there is no relationship between both "Skill" and "authority", consequently cannot be contradicted, but as a manager you need both to achieve required objectives as:

Skill:

Is the ability to carry out  a task with pre-determined results, often with a given time, energy, or both. Skill is usually can be improved by training.

Whereas: 

Authority:

Is the right to exercise power given by law or institutionalized and legal power inherent in a particular job, function or position that is enable its holder to successfully carry out his/ her responsibilities. 

Thanks 

Skills more important, but unfortunately the upper hand for authority " c'est la vie"

Regards  

Both are important equally. Unfortunately authority always win in current structures. 

Great question

Competence is more important than authority because the authority is delegated to the individual who receives it instantaneously. A manager who discharges on his subordinates tasks that does not master, loses part of his authority.

If they contradict, then competence will have the upper hand.

If a leader is interested in matters beyond his limits, his authority will be established because he is making an abus of authority. 

Thank you. Both are important. But comparatively skill is more important.

If I were to be asked, skill is more important because this is the one that will boost your authority.  I believe that authority is not if it is only by word, you have to have something inside to make it strong.

Once you have showing skills then u can acheive any Auhourity of organization

Skill is more important than authority...

Skill may bring authority but Authority can't bring skill..

Skill is more powerful than authority

Authority enforces compliance and doing what is required to avoid questioning or punishment, while skill enforces taking initiatives and doing what is more than the call of duty.

Authority vanishes once rejected, skill turns rejection into acceptance

An authoritative manager can force an employee to do what the manager wants because the employee is afraid of firing, once the employee is not afraid or have a replacement job he will not do what the manager wants; while a skillful leader can inspire followers to adopt what wants because they want it.

Skill brings about a win-win situation and satisfaction while authority bring about a win-lose (or even lose –lose) situation.

Authority yields short term results but on the expense of long term objectives, while skill aligns short term actions to serve long term goals.

Skill brings positive emotions like love and passion which yield flexibility and cooperation, while authority brings inflexibility and resistance which yield isolation and parting.

Just imagine a low skill high authority manager working with a high skill low authority employee, who has more power to handle the other? Who has orders and who has solutions? The answer is yours.