A Fan WPA Education

Real Power

So what is real power, what is the nature of power? How do we access power? When do we feel powerless? Is there a difference between real power and conventional power? Dwelling in these questions has in and of itself affected my life. When I ask these questions, I am filled with insights into my own internal and external motivations. It is my intention to share these insights here and to leave you knowing that you already have all that it takes to be authentically powerful!

It seems part of our confusion about power is in the different meanings we have for power and how we view power.

So, “What is power”? The conventional view is typically expressed as control, authority, status or strength. Often, when using the word power, we have in mind the idea of controlling the actions of someone or something. We speak of will power or controlling our behavior or controlling our children etc.

In George Orwell’s 1984, the main character Winston (I named my oldest son after him) is considering the control based society in which he lives and comes to the realization, “they can make you do and say anything but they can’t make you believe it”. So perhaps power, viewed as control is an illusion.

Frequently we mean strength when we use the word power.

We refer to physically strong people as powerful. We might call a nation powerful based on its military strength. In other words, the ability to inflict harm by a person, group or nation. At its very core all this is, is intimidation, bullying and it generates fear. So perhaps power, as strength is an illusion.

Power as authority? Most of our society is set up as such. We all know that just because someone has authority, it does not give them power. How many figureheads have we seen in large companies? How many times have we “pulled rank” on our children “because I said so!” just to have it backfire on us later.

What we have learned and often teach our children is that by virtue of position, people in authority have power. For example; teachers, parents, and police officers. Power through authority, an illusion maybe? At its best, it is not consistently effective or sustainable. I would also say that this belief system leaves the vast majority of us feeling powerless!

Climbing the ladder of success? This is the one I believe to be the most addictive, the attempt to find a suitable place for ourselves within a hierarchy or ranking system. Could be in our neighborhood, could be in the PTA, could be at your place of business, or even within your family. Ranking or status can be based on wealth, prestige and physical attributes. Look at how we revere our athletes or education, a PHD behind your name, now there is power.

See if you recognize yourself just a little here “If I could just have some of these attributes like more education, more beauty or more money. I could have the power to control circumstances to my advantage; others will look up to me. I will feel happy and accepted.”

My definition of real power; Real power is about being able to transform results into a sustainable reality. It is also the capacity to translate your intention into reality. Webster’s definition which I also like…the ability to act or produce an effect.

Conventional power has us react to life in fear, seeking control, force or status, hiding behind all the things we are not, the notion or belief in conventional power is in and of itself what holds you back from experiencing real power.

We have all experienced real power before. Some of us daily, some of us have moments at a time and others of us even less often. Take a moment and remember your last experience of real power. What were the qualities or circumstances of that experience?

Real power is identifiable by its absence of fear. Imagine the power of someone who is no longer ruled by fear, someone who is, therefore, immune to manipulation and control by others, someone who has moved to a new level of awareness. Imagine the quiet confidence and power of someone who is no longer addicted to the approval and affirmation of others, someone who is in touch with his or her real self. Imagine that this person is whole and complete even without their job, or their family or their status. Now imagine that this person with this quiet confidence, this person who no longer needs approval is you, think about it, what would life be like? What could you do in your business? Now imagine what you could do in Your Life!

Alicia Fruin- Owner of People Biz Inc.

About the Author

Alicia Marie brings a wide range of experience to Training, Consulting and Coaching! As owner of www.peoplebizinc.com., Alicia has designed over 80 training programs and led custom training programs for hundreds of business owners and professional in a variety of industries across the country.

Database Systems for Advanced Applications: DASFAA 2009 International Workshops: BenchmaX, MCIS, WDPP, PPDA, MBC, PhD, Brisbane, Australia, April … Applications, incl. Internet/Web, and HCI) $54.79 This book constitutes the workshop proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Database Systems for Advanced Applications, DASFAA 2009, held in Brisbane, Australia, in April 2009. The volume contains six workshops, each focusing on specific research issues that contribute to the main themes of the DASFAA conference: The First International Workshop on Benchmarking of XML and Semantic We…

Corporate Controller’s Handbook of Financial Management by Siegel, Joel G Shim PhD, Jae K Dauber, Nicky A Edition , 2 $13.99 Corporate Controller’s Handbook of Financial Management. Siegel, Joel G Shim PhD, Jae K Dauber, Nicky A

Business Rankings Annual 2011 by Edition , 0 $13.99 Business Rankings Annual 2011.

Anger Management For Dummies by Gentry PhD, W. Doyle Edition ILL, 1 $9.99 If your anger, or that of a loved one, is out of control and threatening your life and livelihood, you need the calm, clear, and understanding help you’ll find in Anger Management For Dummies. This concise and practical guidebook shares specific anger management methods, skills, and exercises that will help you identify the sources of your anger and release yourself from their grip. You’ll find out how to:Defuse your anger before it strikesExpress your feelings calmlyRespond rather than reactPrevent anger incidents in the futureRelease healthy anger in a healthy wayConfess your anger in a journalUse anger constructivelyGet beyond old anger through forgivenessComplete with coverage of road rage, air rage, office rage, and dealing with angry children, Anger Management for Dummies gives you the tools you need to overcome your anger and live a happier, more productive life.

QS World University Rankings $79.66 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles The QS World University Rankings is published annually and ranks the worlds top 500 universities. The full results, subject specific rankings, methodology and interactive tables are listed on topuniversities.com. Between 2004 and 2009 the rankings were compiled in partnership with Times Higher Education and were known as the Times Higher EducationQS World University Rankings. Between 2004 and 2009, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) produced the World University Rankings in partnership with the Times Higher Education (THE). QS is responsible for all of the research, and retains the intellectual property, for the Times Higher EducationQS World University Rankings published over these six years. In 2009, Times Higher Education announced they would produce their own rankings Times Higher Education World University Rankings in partnership with Thomson Reuters. The first of these rankings, with an expected survey sample size to be about five to ten times larger than that of previous exercises by QS, will be released in autumn 2010. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Tennoe, Mariam T./ Henssonow, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 108 Publication Date: 2010/08/22 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.26 inches

State Rankings 2007 by Morgan, Scott Edition REV, 1 $11.49 State Rankings 2007. Morgan, Scott

You Rules by Weaver II, Phd Richard L. [Paperback] $32.44 The 50 essays in this collection offer encouragement, specific suggestions, and inspiration on such subjects as selfdiscipline, time management, listening to instincts, worry, memory, effective listening, and how to move to the front of the pack. Author: Weaver II, Phd Richard L. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 344 Publication Date: 2008/08/01 Language: English Dimensions: 9.00 x 6.00 x 0.72 inches