On World Day of Social Justice, let’s talk about a radical idea: True power isn’t about control – it’s about giving choice back to others. But how do we make this real in a world of hierarchies and titles?
Here’s what might surprise you: The most effective collaboration happens when power flows freely, not when it’s hoarded or surrendered. Just like in my personal life, where my partner and I choose each other through Scottish handfasting ceremonies (one year and one day at a time), real commitment comes from having the freedom to choose – again and again.
In organisations, we often talk about empowerment while accidentally reinforcing powerless behaviours. Recently, I facilitated a “Leading Without a Title” program that flipped this dynamic on its head. The magic happened when we stopped treating leadership as a position and started seeing it as a practice available to everyone.
Think about FPIC (Free, Prior, and Informed Consent) in indigenous human rights agreements – that first word, FREE, isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s everything. Without genuine choice, we don’t have real collaboration – we have compliance dressed up as partnership.
APPLY (Creating Choice): Want to build genuine collaboration? Start asking these power-sharing questions:
- “What do you want?” – Opens the door to real dialogue
- “How does this land for you?” – Creates space for authentic response
- “How does this affect you?” – Acknowledges impact and agency
- “What’s working, and what could change?” – Invites co-creation
Like my personal, renewable relationship commitments (we just chose another two years and two days!), true power lives in the ability to choose freely. Whether you’re leading a team or building partnerships, remember: Power shared is power multiplied.
The hard truth? Authoritarian habits are like weeds – they’ll keep sprouting unless we consciously cultivate something different. But when we get it right, when we truly share power instead of taking or giving it away, we create something revolutionary: A space where everyone can step into their leadership.