Power: A Weekly Wisdom Post

This week’s post is about power, but not the way that most people think of it – that you either have it or you don’t. I had the pleasure of listening to Lily Zheng on a live session about their book DEI Deconstructed.” I’ve heard Zheng before and knew there would be a wealth of wisdom.

Zheng tells us to examine types of power and consider that we all have some level of power. Once you understand different levels of power, consider how it is used. This blog is a reflection on my own experience with power.

The Types of Power

During their live book club session on Chapter 5, Zheng covered the types of power with some examples. I placed those inside the image above. They suggested that thinking of power as a binary – you either have it or you don’t – is a mistake and doesn’t match the research. Zheng said “Power is something that we opt into. Power is something that we create for ourselves. And if we’re not creating that sense of power for ourselves, then it's clear that the power dynamic benefits those on the other side.” They went on to say

“We can’t hide from power. We can’t avoid power. We can’t just abstain and say well, power isn’t something I want to engage in because either we understand power, we leverage power. We leverage power or it’s used against us.”

When the participants of the workshop were asked what we now think about power, I added to the chat that I felt like power should be unpacked as a part of any project. I noticed when I reflected on my own power, feeling the resistance to face it. I imagine that the stronger resistance to examining power, the more power that is probably being wielded uselessly or manipulatively. I don’t discount myself in that examination.

Social Media

Zheng talked about how social media gives us all sorts of power. We can use our expertise or information power to share with others. We can also use reward or coercive power when talking about our employers. Depending on your following, you have the potential to grant huge rewards to your employer by saying how great it is to work for them. You can also air a grievance that is coercive power. In any case, Zheng reminded us that all power comes with risks.

I think that is why it is essential to understand what form of power you are using on social media and whether it's useful or manipulative. Consider possible impacts.

Cultural differences regarding power

Something Zheng said regarding expert power struck me. They said that expert power, especially in academia is more valuable in the western world. In other areas of the world, lived experience and Indigenous knowledge are more often acknowledged and valued.

I just had to note that! How does lived experience and/or Indigenous knowledge play a role in your consideration of expert and information power?

My power

As a small business owner, I have the formal power to do whatever I want with my business. I can decide with whom I want to partner and the terms of that partnership. Instead of unpacking each form of power, I thought of various times when I used my power.

• I used referent and information power to bring a diverse speaker to a conference. I could have submitted my own proposal on the topic, but I felt like exposing the group to a more diverse speaker would be more important, in the long term, than the small income I might have received by doing it myself.
• With those same powers, I brought another diverse candidate to a group and that person now serves as a trainer for the group.
• I recall using referent power, along with information and expertise power to bring an archery range to a city. Because I am a woman AND had the information and expertise that I presented during a city meeting. I believed that if a man in the room said the very same things, they wouldn’t have been received the same way. Hearing from a woman that archery is not only safe, but exciting, shifted the way the group thought about the sport.
• Recently, a partner asked to take the lead on a project that we are doing together, but I brought to the fold. That felt like perceived power to me but perception often feels like reality.

If I sat down and really dug into power, I am certain I could dig up a lot more stories. Most of the time, I feel like I have little power. This examination has helped me see my own power, consider how I’ve used it in the past (both for good and not so good), and how I might use it for the greater good in the future.

DEI Deconstructed

I encourage you to get Zheng’s book and listen to their live offerings whenever possible. If you are ready to lean into the work of diversity, equity and inclusion Zheng’s work is a must!

Zheng’s company and books: https://lilyzheng.co/home/

The live session that inspired this post: https://www.dhirubhai.net/video/event/urn:li:ugcPost:7018265959702417408/

Follow Zheng on LinkedIn here: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/lilyzheng308/

Contact me

I do a series on Social Location in Conservation that examines power, although in a slightly different way. DM me for more information.