Right Use of Power Institute
  • Home
  • About
    • Right Use of Power Institute >
      • Board of Directors
      • Racial Justice Statement
      • Annual Reports
    • RUPI Teacher's Guild
    • RUP Newsletters >
      • Newsletter Sign Up
    • RUP Blog
    • Contact Us
  • Learn
    • Learn About RUP >
      • RUP Core Concepts
      • RUP Core Curriculum
      • Appreciations
    • 2021 Guild Conference
    • Books & E-Courses
    • Be Power Positive
  • Trainings
    • Upcoming Trainings
    • Core Training Registration
    • Teacher Training Registration
    • Training Testimonials
  • Find a Teacher
    • Affiliated Teachers
  • Store

Right Use of Power for Business Leaders

7/30/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
by Jenny Morawska and Cedar Barstow

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net


Stand in your strength, stay in your heart. Say “yes” to power and use it wisely and well.

We talk about power all the time – do we really understand what it is and how to use it? Power can be exalted, vilified, or avoided. It is both over-used and under-used. The actual definition of power is “the ability to have an effect or to have influence.” Value-neutral. It can be used for great harm or great good.

It is how this ability to affect and influence is used that determines how successful and healthy an SME (small to medium  enterprise) will be. So, what is involved in using power wisely and well?

In my experience women leaders often get stuck in thinking that they have to choose between being strong as leaders or being kind as leaders. Either side of this choice results in business failures. The wisest and most challenging power style is one in which leaders stand in their strength and stay in their heart.

How can this be done? Right uses of power are actions and attitudes that accomplish tasks, preserve dignity, and promote well-being and the common good. Developing this kind of leadership call for four things:

  1. Be informed
  2. Be conscious
  3. Be connected
  4. Be skillful
The key to using power wisely and well is right relationship between leaders and employees. This is dependent on understanding and working skillfully with the dynamics of the differential in power that automatically accompanies up-power roles.

Right uses of power come from a foundation of power as both strength and compassion: power with heart. This is power used without manipulation, oppression, or exploitation. This is power used to accomplish tasks, prevent or repair harm, promote the well-being of all, and empower people in all roles.

The right and ethical use of power can dramatically improve the bottom line of any business entity!

 Jenny Morawska is CEO of The Morawska Group and Conference Director for Macquarie University’s upcoming Women and Leadership Conference.

Cedar Barstow is the author of the book and program–Right Use of Power: The Heart of Ethics, and the Director of the Right Use of Power Institute. 


0 Comments

    Author

    Dr. Cedar Barstow, D.P.I.

    Archives

    March 2018
    May 2017
    January 2017
    April 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    July 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    December 2011

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Picture