EP 88: Right-Use-of-Power: Navigating Leadership Dynamics with Dr. Cedar Barstow

Would you call yourself a powerful person? Do you trust yourself with power? Does owning your power feel a bit like holding a hot potato?The many ways we learn about power–often by having it taken away from us, seeing it taken away from others, or seeing people go to great lengths to take and keep power, no matter the cost or casualties–understandably influence our understanding of power for the worse. We have benefitted from many pioneering scholars and social justice leaders who deeply embraced their personal power in the face of systemic abuses. These leaders saw personal power as a birthright and generative, not as something to fear.Owning your power can feel liberating. It’s liberating to no longer live from a burdened sense that we are flawed for doubting ourselves or that we are in deficit because we feel shut down and stuck in our pain and the pain around us..Today’s guest has a lens on power that runs contrary to what many of us have been taught about. She believes that personal power is not something to gain but something you already have and intrinsic to who you are. She sees power itself as neutral. Dr. Cedar Barstow has a long-time devotion to helping people own and use their power wisely and well.  Her book, Right Use of Power: The Heart of Ethics and engaging courses are offered through the Right Use of Power Institute.  In addition to being founder of Right Use of Power Institute, Cedar's background includes being a Hakomi Mindful Somatic Therapy trainer and therapist, and an ethics consultant.  She lives with her husband, Dr. Reynold Feldman, in Boulder, Colorado.Listen to the full episode to hear:Why leaders need understand the overlap of ethics and powerBreaking down the definitions of power and ethics and how they impact our relationshipsWhy Dr. Barstow believes we need to focus on our own personal powerThe potential consequences of trying too hard to flatten role power and why we need to reconsider hierarchy as a neutral toolThe impacts of status, collective, and systemic powerWhat the 150% principle teaches us about managing conflicts and grievancesHow the spiral down process can help us productively reflect on conflict Learn more about Dr. Cedar Barstow:Right Use of Power InstituteRight Use of Power: The Heart of Ethics: A Guide and Resource for Professional RelationshipsLearn more about Rebecca:rebeccaching.comWork With RebeccaSign up for the weekly Unburdened Leader EmailResources:Confidence Culture, Shani Orgad and Rosalind GillSee No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love Valarie KaurEP 70: Getting out of Shame and Into Power with Kelly DielsThe Covenant of Water, Abraham VergheseTransatlanticAre You There God? It's Me, Margaret.