OPINION
Power is at play in every situation: HARNESS ITS POTENTIAL
Each of us has the choice to let our power go untapped, to give it away or to harness it, so we must learn to make the most of this unseen energy, writes Gail Rudolph
T hink about a time when someone energy was changed just by their presence? Suddenly, the air and the audience were super-charged and tingling with excitement. That person didn’t need to make a grand entrance, to be loud, or signify that they had the upper hand. Many times, these individuals are quiet and reserved. Yet, everyone felt the shift. That’s personal power. But personal power isn’t just reserved for celebrities. I’m sure we’ve all been somewhere and felt the energy shift when a particular individual entered the room. These people are not always well-known but we feel their famous or extremely important walked into the room. Remember how the powerful energy as soon as they walk in. This unseen and mysterious force that exists between each of us is power, or, more accurately, power-full. We can’t see it, any more than we can see the wind, but it naturally ebbs and flows as we interact with one another. Power is the key to having ‘the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behaviour of others, or the course of events’. Our ability
to harness this ever-present and limitless influence leads and governs everything we do. You might be surprised to know that we pick our place on the power continuum at any given point simply by transmitting unconscious cues and signals. In other words, we have a choice: whether to let our power go untapped, give it away, or harness it. Every person is in control of their own power. The question is: how do we tap into this unseen energy? First, we must eliminate the misconception that having power means we always need to power up by being domineering, aggressive, or intimidating. Choosing to play down our power down can be just as effective, if not more so. Think back to the person entering a room and that energy shift: they are ‘power-full’ without demanding power. They are not dominating others by being controlling or instilling fear. They are not egotistical and full of themselves. Instead, they radiate influence, connection, and leadership. This example demonstrates that there must be a balance between the two sides of power that harnesses its energy. I refer to this as
Gail Rudolph is the author of Power Up Power Down, How to Reclaim Control and Make Every Situation a Win/Win. Her years as an executive, manoeuvring power dynamics, has transformed her into the go-to expert on harnessing interpersonal
power and creating win/win outcomes.
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