The world needs a mindset upgrade when thinking of the dynamic of Power in leadership and our relationship to Power. Don’t you agree? If we look at the business world in general, the predominant leadership style has been the hierarchical command and control, force and coercion, domination and exploitation. The focus has been on “Winners take all.”

More and more people call this leadership style toxic leadership or toxic masculinity. This style uses ‘power over’ motivated by scarcity and fear tactics, perpetuating inequality, injustice, and exclusion.

Is Power A Finite Resource?

This form of Power is rooted in the belief that Power is a finite resource held only by people in power positions, indicating that only a selected number of people have Power and the rest are powerless. This is a form of patriarchy.

As we have seen in MBA programs for decades, horizontal management and leadership training are based on this traditional premise.

The enforcement of this kind of ‘power over’ has gotten us to the brink of extinction and is influencing the present exodus of professionals from the workplace.

Does this sound familiar?

Well, it feels like change is in the air. Love is in the air.

Love Is In The Air

Why love?

Because this masculine, fear-based way of leading and exerting Power is gradually becoming outdated in a world that is needing and demanding diversion, equality, and inclusion to turn things around to wholeness.

People are calling for a more balanced style of leadership where the positive aspect of our masculine leadership traits are integrated with our more feminine attributes of caring, nurturing, giving, co-creating, sharing, and serving each other.

The people call for leaders who know how to be vulnerable and compassionate and lead from the heart.

And yes, leaders who know how to love unconditionally.

This type of leadership is conscious leadership.

Shifting From Toxic Leadership to Conscious Leadership

We replace:

  • “Winners take all” with collaboration and cooperation
  • Scarcity mindset with that of abundance
  • Extraction with healing and giving
  • Fear with love
  • Power over with Power to — “Power to the people.”

So, what does all of that mean?

Instead of you, as the leader, micromanaging, intimidating, and powering over your people, you give them autonomy to generate their Power and seek new possibilities and actions created without using domination.

It refers to the unique potential that all humans have to shape their reality and affect changes in themselves, their workplaces, and society.

This kind of Power is based on mutual respect, inclusion, and ethics and opens up the possibility of another type of Power referred to as ‘power with.’

What Is “Power with”?

‘Power with’ is shared Power built on collective strength, collaboration, and relationships.

It’s rooted in mutual support, dignity, and solidarity.

It enhances individual talents and knowledge and helps build bridges and reduce conflict.

It promotes equitable relations.

Wielding your leadership power as ‘power to’ and ‘power with’ will empower your people to act from their strength and TRUE Power. The door opens to new opportunities, innovation, and healthy growth for your business, your people, and the bigger whole.

The effective and successful leaders of today and the future will need to wield their Power wisely, using the leadership style of ‘power to’ and ‘power with.’

They need to become conscious leaders and wield their TRUE Power through the conscious leadership style.

Are you ready?

Image courtesy of Depositphotos

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Rúna Bouius is a former CEO and entrepreneur from Iceland and the founder of the True Power Institute. As a keynote speaker, bestselling author, mentor, and advisor to visionary leaders and progressive entrepreneurs, she is on the vanguard of the new-business-paradigm thinking, creating better workplaces, and developing the emerging leaders. Rúna is a co-author of the bestselling book, “The Successful Mind,” a contributing author to several other books and publishing platforms, and sits on advisory boards. She is a co-founder of several social-impact platforms, including the Conscious Capitalism LA Chapter and Coventina Foundation. She specializes in helping CEOs, and C-Suite leaders accelerate their journey towards greater consciousness and TRUE Power.