Power and Potential

<p>Some power may be held structurally within the hierarchy given to you by the Organisation you work for and arranged into rules systems process and mechanisms of consequence and control. Other types of power are unwritten held within our reputation in the community or through the influence or coercion that comes from seniority or expertise stories or beliefs.</p><p><br></p><p>Power is complex: it is not a one- dimensional force but a multidimensional one. Sometimes the different forms of power that we hold in these different dimensions can operate against one another while at other times they can</p><p>be mutually exclusive. For example you may fail to be authentic in your own beliefs and concurrently obedient within a formal system.</p><p><br></p><p>Whatever type of power we are discussing whatever form of leadership we think we need three things are always true.</p><p><br></p><p>��� Firstly all power has limits. We may not realise it we may never probe it but power always has an edge. Understanding the limits of our power may be more important than understanding the substance of it.</p><p><br></p><p>��� Secondly all power can be opposed. However powerful we feel and however all-encompassing the extent of our control feels power can always be opposed. That is at least by those willing to pay the price.</p><p><br></p><p>��� Thirdly and finally all power has a cost both to ourselves and to others. Nothing is free: it may demand our consensus or obedience our freedom or virtue our followership or sacrifice.</p>