Women and Power

Posted by LeeAnn on August 17th, 2009 at 12:52pm

I was perusing the new Oprah Magazine with my coffee this morning and the article about women and power caught my attention. I was hooked with the opening line of women and power – The Final Frontier.

In my work with leaders both male and female, power and the appropriate use of authority is almost always one of the first conversations we have. And based on what has been happening around the country at the town hall meetings to discuss health care, I’d say power; use of authority and influence is an issue.

Women in particular struggle with power. Maybe is because we have so few female role models who have used power wisely and appropriately. Or maybe it is because those who know how to use power just don’t show up in the tabloids or the evening news.

What is usually modeled in our culture is power over others – people, animals and even situations. Often power is used to bully people. From the classroom to the board room people use power to get their way. And,… in the horse training world, abuse of power lead to a whole new horse industry – Natural Horsemanship.

I remember in my ideal and fantasy days prior to actually getting into the real horse world. I loved the Greek general, Xenophon’s description of developing partnership. I loved the ideas that came forward from Europe about horsemanship being a way in which nobles’ developed character in their sons. By sending their sons to riding masters, they learned about stewardship, influence and responsibility for one’s actions. For those who have ears to hear, horses still develop character and leadership.

From the fantasy of ancient horse world came the modern reality. Having worked and played in top barns and with top trainers, I soon discovered that the horse world was more about self-serving interests than collaboration and partnership. I witnessed power being exercised as bullying, abuse, manipulation and other unsavory experiences. I also witnessed trainers, both men and women, who valued relationship and allowed the horse to be a teacher of the positive aspects of power and influence.

There is much more to be said about our relationship to power and as I ask myself to ponder leadership, power, and influence – I ask you to ponder your relationship to power.

Do you avoid it?

Do you play victim? Do you bully? Do you manipulate to get your way?

Do you wield it like Harry Potter’s first experience with a magic wand?

There was a quote in Oprah’s magazine that I liked – Carolyn Heilbrun defined power as “the ability to take one’s place in whatever discourse is essential to action and the right to have one’s part matter.”

This week notice how you use, avoid or participate in power struggles… maybe it is time to refine your relationship to power… maybe it is time to be a role model of a new concept of power – one that includes self-mastery and self-esteem as we stand our ground in a world were power does run-a-muck!

Happy trails,

The Divine Cowgirl

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