Power vs Wisdom
Massive Systemic Change
Coaching visionary non-profit leaders and entrepreneurs who are committed to dismantling all forms of authoritarianism.
By Justin Foster
Our core belief at Massive is …
Consciousness changes the dynamics of power.
What does this mean??
First some back story and context …
For most of the last 1000+ years, institutions and industries have been governed by what I call Power Traditions:
In consciousness terms, these traits are also the traits of the ego. While the ego has many positive traits related to competition, resourcefulness, and inventiveness, its darker elements can cause tremendous damage to the lives of stakeholders. When left unchecked, the ego becomes authoritarian and fear-based power becomes the norm, which includes:
Although there has been a significant shift in recent years, Power Tradition in the US usually means white, male, educated, and entrenched.?
The above concepts would have been completely foreign to ancient and/or indigenous cultures. These cultures operated by what is commonly referred to as Wisdom Traditions. There are many Wisdom Traditions, but common ones include:
It is time for organizations to embrace Wisdom Traditions.?
Why? A quote from my partner in all things …
“A linear mind thinks that with enough information, planning, and clear instructions everything is predictable and controllable like a machine. But humans are not machines.”?
- Virginia Lacayo, Ph.D.
Wisdom Traditions are essential because we are leaving the Industrial Age and entering the Human Age. In the Industrial Age, humans were treated like machines. They were seen as cogs or parts in the infrastructure.?
Look at the data …?
Studies show, especially with the Great Resignation, that most people value the work culture and appreciation over material and economic stimuli. In essence, people leave their jobs because of shitty leadership; because they didn’t feel valued, seen, or safe.
In the marketplace, research shows that consumers care more than ever about buying from brands that share their values. Of course, Power Traditions condemn this with “Go woke, go broke” tropes but it turns out the exact opposite is true.
Organizations that embrace Wisdom Traditions have a built-in competitive advantage for both revenue generation and recruiting and retaining talent. Further, by embracing Wisdom Traditions, leaders become high-conscious role models with traits that can be adopted by everyone in the organization:
In turn, their businesses experience an ever-growing garden of innovation with natural and organic differentiators. They increase the velocity and quality of decision-making. They create self-governing, autonomous cultures. For these organizations, diversity, inclusion, and equity are not initiatives. They are standards.?
When it comes to taking on social change, the Wisdom Traditions best position leaders to lead systemic change. By seeing a cause as a living, evolving ecosystem, leaders can affect real and sustained progress.?
So indeed, consciousness does change the dynamics of power. It moves power from an ego-based resource to a wisdom-based resource; from status to stewardship.?