Power Over vs. Power TO — Finally, It’s A Recognized Thing
Issue 233 — June 26, 2023
I took a class in Tai Chi last weekend. The teacher started by describing the practice as “intentional movement.”
Intentional movement is a useful framework for thinking about one’s own behavior as a leader and for interpreting or attempting to interpret the behavior of other leaders.
Research for my 2010 book, No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power led me to distinguish between oppressive power over and generative power TO. I found that women understandably expressed ambivalence about power within the traditional male “power over” model. Yet once I offered the alternative concept of the power TO, without exception women embraced it: “Oh yes, I want the power TO make life better for myself, my family, my community, the world.”
Apparently I was a few years ahead of my time in making that distinction between the two frameworks of power. Journalists Katty Kay and Claire Shipman have just published a book based on that same theory, entitled The Power Code: More Joy, Less Ego, Maximum Impact, for Women (and Everyone). Good grief, I just noticed that they even used my parenthetical style (Everyone) that is in the title of my following book, Intentioning: Sex, Power, Pandemics, and How Women Will Take the Lead for (Everyone’s) Good.
I’ll take that as a compliment.
Redefining the power paradigm from power over to power TO is an intentional shift in thinking that changes everything.
Intentional movement. I love it.
The world has just witnessed some of the most bizarre yet most common intentional movements of two exemplars of teeth-baring male primate “power over” behavior. Yes, I’m talking about Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the Wagner Group of mercenaries, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
The power struggle between Putin and Prigozhin is a snapshot of what happens in a clash between two power-over wielding leaders.
“Power over” is a hierarchical and authoritarian approach, where one individual or group seeks to dominate and control others. This type of power is exercised with coercion, manipulation, and the suppression of dissent. It seeks to maintain authority and ensure obedience from both political opponents and the wider populace.
On the other hand, “power to” embodies a more collaborative and power-inclusive approach to leadership. It focuses on enabling individuals or groups to realize their own potential, fostering autonomy and encouraging active participation. This form of power promotes inclusivity, shared decision-making, and the distribution of responsibility.
Prigozhin’s rise and claims of ownership of the Wagner Group represent a quest for “power over.” He seeks to exert influence and carve out his own sphere of power within the existing political landscape. While his association with Putin provides him with the means to acquire power, inevitably tension between the centralization and decentralization of power has occurred; this is because in both cases these men intend to dominate. And so there is a standoff, at least for the moment. I doubt we have seen the end of this power struggle.
The characteristics of intrigue, influence, and an air of mystery, as exhibited by Yevgeny Prigozhin, paradoxically can be wielded for both good and evil purposes. Such qualities, when utilized positively, can lead to innovation, creativity, and visionary leadership. Conversely, when utilized negatively, they can foster manipulation, corruption, and exploitation.
The ability to navigate complex political landscapes and establish influential connections may enable leaders to drive initiatives for social progress, economic development, and philanthropic endeavors. Their innovative thinking and risk-taking nature can pave the way for breakthroughs in various fields, benefiting society as a whole.
However, the same characteristics that can be harnessed for good can be twisted for nefarious purposes. The aura of mystery and intrigue can facilitate clandestine activities, hidden agendas, and the manipulation of power dynamics. Those who possess substantial influence and operate in the shadows may exploit their connections and resources for personal gain, engage in corrupt practices, violence, and actions that undermine democratic values and human rights.
Ultimately, it is the ethical compass and moral choices — the intentional movements — that determine the impact of actions.
The paradox lies in how these qualities can be leveraged to shape society positively or exploit it for personal or malicious gain. The responsibility lies not only with individuals themselves but also with institutions, governments, and society at large to hold them accountable and create systems that promote transparency, fairness, and the common good.
Women’s leadership is essential to shifting the power paradigm from oppressive power over to generative power TO. That’s not because women are inherently better than men, but because having borne the brunt of so many negative aspects of power-over leaders, we have hard-learned that it’s a zero sum game in which ultimately no one wins.
So we tend to prefer to operate in power TO mode.
Whether in the intentional movements of Tai Chi or the wise words of philosopher Amelie Oksenberg Rorty, who said, “It is in the intentions, the capacities for choice rather than the total configuration of traits which defines the person,” the choice of how to use power is up to us.
What is your intention? What kind of power will you choose?
P.S. Be sure to join me at the Women’s Equality Day Power Up Concert and Conference on August 26, in person in Los Angeles and virtual everywhere. I’ll talk more about women’s power and leadership, you’ll participate in our signature roundtables led by Felicia Davis, and you’ll hear from top speakers and great performers such as Kathleen Turner, Milck, and more. Get your tickets now as they are going fast.
GLORIA FELDT is the Cofounder and President of Take The Lead, a motivational speaker and expert women’s leadership developer for companies that want to build gender balance, and a bestselling author of five books, most recently Intentioning: Sex, Power, Pandemics, and How Women Will Take The Lead for (Everyone’s) Good. Honored as Forbes 50 Over 50 2022, and Former President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, she is a frequent media commentator. Learn more at www.gloriafeldt.com and www.taketheleadwomen.com. Tweet Gloria Feldt.
