Monday, May 25, 2015

You Have Power, Are You Abusing It?

Power!  Realize it or not, recognize it or not, you have power and you use it daily.

For example, if you are a parent, you exercise power.  If you have responsibility at the workplace affecting others under you, you have power.  It is obvious that some have more power than others and that there is a clear structural hierarchy of power in any society.  What may not be so obvious is that we all exercise power over someone at various times and circumstances in our lives, and we all have a certain amount of personal power, wherever we may find ourselves in the social hierarchy of power.

And that’s why we get into power struggles.  What’s a “power struggle”?  It’s a battle of the wills.  It’s a stand-off as to who is going to get his/her way.  It might play out in direct defiance to authority or passive resistance to outside pressure.  It can be direct or indirect, aggressive or passive, militant or peaceful.  But it is still a question of who is going to have the last word, the final say, or determine the end result.

When we want our way badly enough we’re often tempted to use sheer force, if we can get away with it.  For, resorting to naked power is the easiest way to get something done, that is, to get someone to do something we want them to do.  Demand, order, command, and make it so!  Ordering someone to do something gets the deed done, quickly, effectively, and efficiently—that’s why the military, for example, is run by strict lines of command.  This kind of use of power, however, seldom serves the interpersonal relationship well.  (For example, consider the parent/child relationship—especially when the kids become teens.)

Of course there are places and times in which simple military type commands and demands are in order and are expected and required, whether at work or at play: “Take care of that.  See that this gets done.  Fix it.  Do this, get that.”  Simple commands, no questions asked, no explanation required.  Follow instructions and do as you’re told.  That’s how it works in a chain of command situation at work, at home, or on the playing field.  And that’s why power is structured and well-marked in most social circumstances: titles and uniforms, badges of authority, authorized positions, and other signifiers of power.

But as we all know, power can be abused and anyone with power tends to do so.  It seems to be human nature to move in the direction of abusing power.  Consider our most recent concern over police power and their quick use of firearm against inner-city black youth.  Hence, there is a reason why our governmental system is one of “Checks and Balances”!

I think it is safe to say that people who are given much power over others need to be regularly “checked” (thinking of “checks and balances”) in order to avoid the abuse of that power.  Furthermore, we should not only monitor the obvious offices and positions that use power to get their work done, such as police, politicians, and military personnel, but those who have and wield the more subtle power of monetary influence, including huge financial institutions, that directly or indirectly affect our nation’s economic health and well being. 

Power is both authorized and assumed.  Authorized power comes from taking on certain roles or positions.  Police officers have authorized power.  Assumed power comes from one’s own inner strength, will, and charisma.  There is usually a constant interplay of mutual reinforcement between the two sources of power within any given individual.  Individuals that fail to recognize acknowledge or own their power are most apt to unintentionally side-step appropriate lines of accountability and thus tend to abuse their unacknowledged power.  Individuals who do acknowledge and recognize their power while deliberately avoiding open lines of accountability for its use are surely abusing it.  In either case, the result is the lack of true accountability of power and the inevitable abuse of that power.  Individuals in positions of power not only need to recognize and own the power that they have, they also need to accept avenues of accountability for its use.

Power has purpose.  There is always intention behind one’s use of power.  To what end should human personal and/or political (social) power be used?  Answer: personal and social (positional) power should be used for the good—to benefit those directly and indirectly affected by one’s use of power, including one’s self.  This is in contrast to power that is used for selfish, self-serving, egotistical, and egocentric purposes and ends.  Thus, when one is in a professional position of power, one must exercise that power for professional purposes—for the good of society, his or her community—and seldom, if ever, use it for personal gain or personal satisfaction.

Thus, the good exercise of power does not seek to merely control others.  Rather, it seeks to enhance and empower others to be better and do better, to become more empowered to excel and do well and to positively contribute to the collective good—at work, at play, or at home.

And so, for example, on a personal level, when we want someone to do something for us or with us, we would seldom say that we want them to do so out of a motivation of fear or guilt or shame or mere obligation to us.  This is what the bad exercise of force leads to, when used to control others.  It may get the effect one wants—the desired “obedience,” but the so-called obedience or compliance then comes with anger and resentment in the person so controlled.  This kind of use of power is self-defeating and is often eventually challenged.  It damages the true cohesiveness of society and community.  The use of naked power to control others never builds a healthy community.  On the other hand, the wise use of power, in a context of open and reciprocated accountability, invites others to self-empowerment to freely choose that which is productive, good, and constructive.  That is personal power well used for the collective good.  This is what all politicians, financial money barons, and military/police force types should never forget.

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