New power- The way of the future
When we are given the language to describe an experience, a view or a feeling, personal transformation is inevitable. I have seen this with children, with the client’s I have supported and the many who are now sharing their experiences to change systems. Being able to articulate something is key to being able to tame it, mould it and harness it. Recently, I was introduced to a concept that has helped me define the “something” that I have struggled with for many years. It was like a wave of relief and excitement all at once.
This concept is New Power.
Since I can remember, my experience with power and authority has not been positive. I have resisted authority and felt a responsibility to fight injustice or speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. I despise people who wield positions of authority like a weapon and vehemently oppose anyone telling me to do something “because they said so”.
Along my journey, there have been a handful of people in positions of authority who I respect greatly and learn a great deal from. These individuals have similar features. They welcome collaboration, robust debates and exploring the why, use their positions to elevate others and advocate for fair policy and balance the rigidity of their roles and responsibilities with a level of humanness and transparency. They held the qualities I aspired to have in my leadership, however these leaders were like unicorns.
Entering my forties I had I managed to navigate my disdain of power and authority without causing complete anarchy, however as I started interacting with more people in positions of significant influence, the more validated I felt about my opinions. The more power one had, the more they seemed to lose touch with the people they were responsible for.
As my scepticism grew, it became apparent that my three girls (now aged 16,14 and 11) inherited my opposition to those who demanded respect yet failed to earn it. My 16 year old had left mainstream school at 13 however found solace in an alternative learning environment where students were treated with respect, given responsibility and embraced for their individuality. My 11 and 14 year olds thrive with teachers who they respect yet really struggle in the classes where the teachers use ‘old school’ ways of containment in the classroom.
Seeing your own beliefs and values play out in your children is really something else. It forces you to reflect on how you show up in the world. Whilst I have always wanted my girls to be strong willed, independent world changers, the fear that I had failed them by not raising them to conform also sat heavily on my mind.
From my personal and professional experiences and insights regarding school disengagement rates, teachers leaving in droves and the basic failures of our education system, it is quite apparent to me as a parent that the fundamental issue is that our education system is no longer fit for purpose. In fact, most of our systems and structures seem to be no longer fit for purpose.
With my growing scepticism about the systems and structures that we exist in, the experiences that validated my distrust of people in power and seeing everyone around me just surviving, I found myself feeling a lack of hope for the future of humanity (this sounds deep however it really is the only way I can describe it).
After walking away from a secure job and having some space to reflect on what I wanted to do, I leant into my desire to foster hope and purpose in others. I believed that if we could support people to feel empowered, connected and a little happier, they might care a bit more about those less fortunate and have the confidence to hold our decision makers to account.
From this hope, Change Makers was born. A series of programs designed to support participants to tap into their values, build connection and understand the complex systems they live in and how they can participate in change.
Whilst I was fortunate enough to test the program with some young people disengaged from school, I found myself still struggling to define the vision and purpose behind the program. My inability to describe it left me questioning it and flailing between determination and complete abandonment.
This was until I caught up with a colleague who is one of those leaders I mentioned earlier. The ones who embody all of the traits that make them highly respected and impactful.
When I spoke to her about my why, she remarked... “That is New Power you are talking about”.
As explained by Jeremy Heimans and Henry Timms in the Harvard Business Review article Understanding “New Power” (hbr.org)
Old power works like a currency. It is held by few. Once gained, it is jealously guarded, and the powerful have a substantial store of it to spend. It is closed, inaccessible, and leader-driven. It downloads, and it captures.
New power operates differently, like a current. It is made by many. It is open, participatory, and peer-driven. It uploads, and it distributes. Like water or electricity, it’s most forceful when it surges. The goal with new power is not to hoard it but to channel it.
Bottom up power.
Collective voices for change.
Enabling and empowering participation.
It is the very thing that I dream of and the thing that I truly believe will overhaul the way we live.
Becoming educated around the concept of new power has given me the capacity to explain my discomfort I felt in senior leadership.
Walking alongside consumers, community and practitioners whilst sitting in meeting rooms with senior leaders and decision makers. I found myself consistently asking ‘why’ and ‘what about?’ Always seeming to be an agitator and a disruptor, something I did not want to be defined as.
Frustration, pressure, confusion and isolation were feelings I experienced often over the last few years in my workplaces.
At one stage I created a ‘Mindset’ playlist to prepare me for meetings where I felt like an imposter (Shout out to Sia’s Unstoppable and Fred Again’s Jungle for helping me show up!)
Being introduced to the concept of new power has helped me understand my experiences and replace the negative feelings with ones of excitement and possibility. Being able to straddle old and new power is a privilege. An ability to introduce new concepts and ideas, push for positive change and influence thinking towards more inclusive ways of life, all whilst understanding the value of governance and accountability, is a gift.
I feel I have been defined and in doing so, can articulate my why with clarity.
My commitment is to fostering systems and structures of new power. Culture that
- Is participatory and collaborative. That thrives on the active involvement of diverse voices in the creation of ideas and decision making
- Decentralises power, distributing it across individuals and groups
- Embraces radical transparency, where trust is assumed and underpinned by accountability of each individual
- Mobilises collective responsibility and action
- Does away with traditional hierarchical structures of power and control and allows leaderships to be shared and flow with priorities
- Is adaptive and responsive and can stand in failure, embracing experimentation and learning.
New power is a concept that defines what we are seeing across the globe. Movements of those less privileged holding those in power to account. Whilst there is always a shadow, for the most part embracing this should be our new way forward. It will give people purpose, connection and voice in the things that affect them. It will create more practical policies and systems that actually respond to the needs on the ground, because they will be designed, and led, by those very people.
We have seen a rise in the voice of those with lived/living experience across the community. New power takes this and expands it to the whole of society.
In finding the concept of new power, I have returned to my purpose with the clarity to define it. The journey will no doubt be met with some frustration along the way, however as more people embrace this new way of governing, there will be an immense opportunity to truly shape how we all live in this world.