Page 34 - Here and Now – Apr 2024

getting through to the learners, it can result in confrontation, apathy or submitting to
“knowledge power.”

Hypothesis Two: Facilitators with varying ranges of experiences and exposure display

predictable games of pairing and supremacy over one another with a calculated appreciation
of their colleagues and teammates.

Facilitators occupy positions of ‘knowledge power’ in the group. In a hierarchical society like
India, accreditation reaffirms a dormant power need. Many new professionals seek inclusion
and admiration of seniors and respond to seniors’ needs. Some value authenticity and take
responsibility for their faults, leading to higher self-esteem and openness. During faculty
meetings, it is not uncommon for role holders to become defensive when confronted from
positions of authority. Mutual admiration, pairing and cliques are some power plays seen.

Unclear and arbitrary criteria create power struggles even in process work organizations like
ISABS.

Hypothesis Three: Power being an intoxicating force, capable of captivating individuals and
driving them to seek positions of authority, fails to let people grow and introspect towards
handling interpersonal differences unless we choose to distribute our power to others.

Power can be categorised into two major types. Possessive or ‘taking’ power is inclined towards
personal goals, and used for self-centric objectives such as desire for control, achievement and
status. Distributive or ‘giving’ power is inclined towards social objectives and ‘humanness’ , and
demands higher competencies like empathetic listening. Understanding the drivers can help
understand why some are driven towards attaining power and influence.

Hypothesis four: Different contours of possessive power produce higher emotional insecurity
of a person with greater resentment to unfold and open in the group

Emotional security is essential for building stable relationships, trust, and intimacy. Those
holding power and/or authority should use it to encourage a group to establish its norms and
interactive patterns rather than control or dominate. Why are some people drawn to positions
of power? I offer insights based on my research over the years. Intrinsic needs coexist in a
person. One may hold multiple goals due to limited skills of priority setting. The challenge lies

in quest of being. How do we proceed to inner clarity that connects to our needs and purpose
of life? The ‘having’ goal defines holding and hiding of power that protects from unlearning.
The ‘doing’ goal drives a person to continuous engagement that covers fear of insecurity,
prohibiting quest of being, The ‘being’ goal offers clarity on a substantive part of life.

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