POWER PRIVILEGE RANK AND RESPONSE POWER To influence

POWER, PRIVILEGE, RANK AND RESPONSE

POWER • • To influence and to do Power is neither good nor bad We all have multiple forms of power It’s composed of our talents, skills, abilities, characteristics • Power comes in many different forms

PRIVILEGE • Freedom, license, opportunities and advantages • Privilege exists in a social context • We are more aware of the privilege that we don’t have than the privilege that we do have • Our privilege directly impacts our ability to exercise our power

EVERYONE HAS POWER PRIVILEGE IS THE “GATEKEEPER”

COMMON WESTERN PRIVILEGE (Arnold Mindell, Ph. D. ) UNEARNED MOSTLY EARNED BOTH • Age • Expertise • Economic Class • Gender • Profession • Education • Sexual Orientation • Spirituality • Mental Health • Skin Color • Physical Health • Religion

COMMON WESTERN PRIVILEGE (Arnold Mindell, Ph. D. ) UNEARNED MOSTLY EARNED BOTH • Age (Generations) • Expertise • Economic Class • Gender • Profession • Education • Sexual Orientation • Spirituality • Mental Health & Physical Health (Disabilities) • Skin Color (Race) • Religion

RANK • The sum of one’s privileges (not your GS#) • The more you have, the less conscious of it you tend to be • Rank can be used consciously or unconsciously • Rank can be used with intent to empower or disempower

RANK “If you use rank consciously, it’s medicine. Otherwise it’s poison. ” ~Arnold Mindell, Ph. D.

POISONOUS USE OF RANK Creates the likely responses of: • Fight: – Grievances, positioning, sabotage, retribution, speaking truth to power, change efforts, political action… • Flight: – Withdrawal, transfers, attrition… • Freeze: – Compliance, submission, silence…

MEDICINAL USE OF RANK Creates an opening for: • New information, ideas and solutions • Increased productivity • Curiosity about marginalized voices • Collaborative leadership • Co-creating from common interests • Vigorous debates • Openness to influence