Power is a funny old thing. We all have different ideas about power – how much we have, how much we want, how much we don’t want and how much we perceive power in others. There’s power that comes with our role, our knowledge and experience. Power that is given to us by others and power that we take for ourselves.
For me power is something I’ve never particularly sought and yet I also know that I am a very powerful person. Some of that will be about being a tall, middle aged bloke. Some of that will be about my knowledge and experience. Some of it will be about how others experience me and how I respond to their experience of me. The common thread is that I have always tried to use my power wisely to benefit those around me rather than just myself.
There’s no point pretending that I haven’t enjoyed my power – even though I’ve never felt particularly powerful. Where power gets out of hand is where one’s own ego takes control and you lose your ability to share your power with others. I’ve come across this many times personally and in conversation with others. A need to be and feel powerful is a drag on everyone. It doesn’t have to be displayed openly through high drama, anger or petulance – it’s probably easier to deal with when is openly on display. More often it’s hard to see and can be very subtitle – often pushed through others rather than the most powerful person openly displaying their power.
The challenge is that when power is vested in an individual, or a small group of individuals it can seriously impede people and organisations from making things happen that have a meaningful positive impact on people’s lives.
I used to do a lecture to people new to social care on roles, power and control. One of the questions I used to ask was, ‘why have you chosen to walk in the shoes of the oppressed?’ For me this is at the heart of how power is used, displayed and misused in social care and health. Do you seek power to make a difference to people’s lives? Or this this the only place in your life where you feel powerful and in control? This is important as anyone involved in social care and health has incredible power over the lives of the people we support – directly and indirectly.
Some of the best examples of wise power come from people who have the confidence to to make sure that the people in their team who have done great things get all the credit for what they have done well, whilst at the same time can confidently take the flack when things go wrong and work with their team to learn from what went wrong. Some of the biggest historical blunders have occurred when those with power have basked in glory when things go well and disowned people when things going wrong.
It’s not compassionate, empathetic use of power that makes a difference, its wise power that focuses on generosity, openness and a willingness to share and learn to together at all times.
Jim Thomas
November 11th 2024
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