<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1





                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears 
below constitutes and appoints Steven J. Douglass, Ullrich E. Porzig, and
William J. Rainey, and each or any one of them acting alone, as his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Payless
ShoeSource, Inc.  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January
31, 1998, and any amendments thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises to perfect and complete such
filing(s), as fully to all the intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
thereof.
        
     Dated this 19th day of March, 1998.



                                         /s/ Steven J. Douglass
                                        ------------------------------------
                                        Steven J. Douglass


<PAGE>   2






                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears 
below constitutes and appoints Steven J. Douglass, Ullrich E. Porzig, and
William J. Rainey, and each or any one of them acting alone, as his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Payless
ShoeSource, Inc.  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January
31, 1998, and any amendments thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises to perfect and complete such
filing(s), as fully to all the intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
thereof.
        
     Dated this 19th day of March, 1998.



                                         /s/ Mylle B. Mangum
                                        ------------------------------------
                                        Mylle B. Mangum


<PAGE>   3






                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears 
below constitutes and appoints Steven J. Douglass, Ullrich E. Porzig, and
William J. Rainey, and each or any one of them acting alone, as his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Payless
ShoeSource, Inc.  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January
31, 1998, and any amendments thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises to perfect and complete such
filing(s), as fully to all the intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
thereof.
        
     Dated this 19th day of March, 1998.



                                         /s/  Robert L. Stark
                                        ------------------------------------
                                        Robert L. Stark


<PAGE>   4






                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears 
below constitutes and appoints Steven J. Douglass, Ullrich E. Porzig, and
William J. Rainey, and each or any one of them acting alone, as his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Payless
ShoeSource, Inc.  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January
31, 1998, and any amendments thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises to perfect and complete such
filing(s), as fully to all the intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
thereof.
        
     Dated this 19th day of March, 1998.



                                         /s/ Michael E. Murphy
                                        ------------------------------------
                                        Michael E. Murphy


<PAGE>   5






                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears 
below constitutes and appoints Steven J. Douglass, Ullrich E. Porzig, and
William J. Rainey, and each or any one of them acting alone, as his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Payless
ShoeSource, Inc.  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January
31, 1998, and any amendments thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises to perfect and complete such
filing(s), as fully to all the intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
thereof.
        
     Dated this 19th day of March, 1998.



                                         /s/  Richard A. Jolosky
                                        ------------------------------------
                                        Richard A. Jolosky


<PAGE>   6






                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears 
below constitutes and appoints Steven J. Douglass, Ullrich E. Porzig, and
William J. Rainey, and each or any one of them acting alone, as his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Payless
ShoeSource, Inc.  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January
31, 1998, and any amendments thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises to perfect and complete such
filing(s), as fully to all the intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
thereof.
        
     Dated this 19th day of March, 1998.



                                         /s/  Howard R. Fricke
                                        ------------------------------------
                                        Howard R. Fricke


<PAGE>   7
                                                                   




                              POWER OF ATTORNEY






     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Steven J. Douglass, Ullrich E. Porzig, and 
William J. Rainey, and each or any one of them acting alone, as his true and 
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution for him and 
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Payless
ShoeSource, Inc.  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January
31, 1998, and any amendments thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises to perfect and complete such
filing(s), as fully to all the intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
thereof.



        Dated this 19th day of March, 1998.



                                        /s/ Daniel Boggan Jr.
                                        ------------------------------------
                                        Daniel Boggan Jr.


<PAGE>   8
                                 




                              POWER OF ATTORNEY






     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Steven J. Douglass, Ullrich E. Porzig, and 
William J. Rainey, and each or any one of them acting alone, as his true and 
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution for him and 
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Payless
ShoeSource, Inc.  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January
31, 1998, and any amendments thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises to perfect and complete such
filing(s), as fully to all the intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
thereof.



        Dated this 24 day of March, 1998.



                                        /s/ Thomas A. Hays
                                        ------------------------------------
                                       Mr. Thomas A. Hays


<PAGE>   9
                                  





                              POWER OF ATTORNEY






     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Steven J. Douglass, Ullrich E. Porzig, and 
William J. Rainey, and each or any one of them acting alone, as his true and 
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution for him and 
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Payless
ShoeSource, Inc.  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January
31, 1998, and any amendments thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises to perfect and complete such
filing(s), as fully to all the intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
thereof.



        Dated this 19th day of March, 1998.



                                        /s/ Daniel Boggan Jr.
                                        ------------------------------------
                                        Mr. Daniel Boggan Jr.