I am convinced that authority must be earned on the strength of one's spiritual assets, and not just one's managerial skills. It is on this basis that I have been emphasizing for years that my disciples should seek out devotees whom they can trust as counselors, and take spiritual guidance from them as well as from their temple authorities. In many cases, these devotees are not in managerial positions, but their ability to be trusted comes on the strength of their example and precepts, and not on the strength of a title.
(Collected Letters to My Disciples, Vol 3, Pg 89, 3rd Paragraph)