Our Seat, Our Table, Our Rules: The New Pathway to Change

For many, the phrase 'a seat at the table' represents the ultimate goal: recognition, acceptance, and, above all, power. It's a metaphor for inclusion, and in the worlds of business, politics, and society, it has become the promised land for individuals and groups who have been historically marginalised.

The table, as an image, represents the established platforms of power and influence. Those seated are the decision-makers; their voices matter. To be given a seat is to be acknowledged, heard, and taken into account. We're taught to strive for this, to gain the qualifications, experience, and networks needed to merit our place. But here lies the paradox - we spend our most energetic and productive years working to secure a seat at someone else's table. Is this seat a tool for genuine change, or is it merely a symbol, a sop to diversity without true inclusion?

The Illusion of Power

In the context of professional life, the struggle to secure a seat at the table can lead to an uncomfortable truth. One might be at the table but not of the table. The existing table was created with specific values, rules, and norms. Joining such a structure could require moulding oneself to fit its pre-established patterns, a move that risks diluting the very diversity and fresh perspective that the individual or group was meant to bring.

There's also the danger of tokenism, where representation is based on surface diversity rather than true equality of voice and power. In this scenario, the seats allocated at the tables become illusions of change, shadow puppets dancing on the walls of the power room, rather than bringing real change to it.

Building New Tables

As the winds of change sweep across society, borne on the voices of movements like 'Me Too' and 'Black Lives Matter', a new idea is taking root. Instead of seeking a place at the existing tables of power, why not create our own?

Building our own tables is an act of power and agency. It's about embracing the potential to drive change instead of being passive passengers on someone else's journey. This concept applies in all life aspects, from the personal to the professional. Imagine a world where we create spaces that reflect our values, that prioritise our needs, that resonate with our visions.

In the higher echelons of power, such as corporate boardrooms, this could translate to creating organisations and businesses that are rooted in inclusivity from the start, not as an afterthought. It might mean forming policy-making bodies that reflect the diversity of the population in their very DNA.

The benefits of creating our own tables are profound. By shaping these new spaces, we can instigate change directly and immediately. We set the norms, establish the values, and drive the agenda. We aren't just filling a seat; we're constructing the entire room.

Embodying Change

So how do we turn this vision into reality? Firstly, it requires a shift in perspective. We must move from being consumers to creators, from passengers to drivers, from participants to changemakers. We need to believe in the power of our voice and the strength of our vision.

Secondly, it requires action. Building our tables might mean launching a start-up with diversity at its core, forming a grassroots community organisation, or creating a digital platform that amplifies marginalised voices. It could be as simple as hosting discussions in our living rooms, bringing together diverse voices in our local communities.

In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, we need to "be the change [we] want to see in the world". In building our tables, we embody that change. We take control of our narrative, design our course of action, and actively shape the world we want to live in.

The promise of a seat at the table will continue to be an important symbol of progress. However, it's only one avenue towards change. As we continue to fight for those seats, let's also consider the power of building our own tables, of creating spaces that inherently reflect our diverse, inclusive vision of the future. Our seat, our table, our rules – therein lies the true power of change.