8 Strategies to Navigate Underlying Power Patterns
I caused a disturbance a few years ago. Near the beginning of a three day meeting of a community I am part of I spoke up, as a participant, and named a harmful and racist practice in which many of the group were participating. We were from different walks of life, different cultures and different continents, and my words didn’t resonate with many and were threatening to some. Over the course of our time together I learned that the tension I voiced was symbolic of other, unspoken tension in the group. With or without my words there was disturbance in our midst.
We were a skilled group of both hosts and participants and we were not able to skillfully acknowledge or handle the disturbance. (I include myself in this!) In hindsight, I see that there were many unclear roles and responsibilities for hosts and participants. On the surface there was a clear purpose for the gathering, but the disturbances were telling us that there was another purpose: to explore the shifting (or not shifting) patterns of power in our community.
How much of me do I insert as part of a community in conversation with itself? This is the question I often explore in my work with cities and communities over the years, whether I am hosting the gathering or as a participant. And when people gather, I’ve noticed two patterns in which hosts and participants relate to each other: the host-attractor pattern and the host-on-the-rim pattern.
These two patterns are distinct in their energetic quality: the host-attractor pattern occurs when community gathers around the host (or a few hosts) and the host-on-the-rim pattern occurs when the host is embedded in the community and the role is shared by the community.
The “host-attractor” pattern
The “host-on-the-rim” pattern
There are roles we play and challenges to be found in each of these patterns, and when we don’t acknowledge the roles in play, and the challenges that come with them, our experience can be confusing and wobbly. One of the ways the wobbles happen is by not paying attention to the power dynamics in the group.
A wobbly circle
I now look at “wobbles”, that felt sense that something is off in a group, as an opportunity to grow our understanding of each other by exploring the wobble. In the community gathering I described above, I might ask:
Who has power? What are the qualities of that power?
Are people with power conscious of the power they wield?
Are people with less power deferring to people with more power?
Are people who feel they have little power conscious of their power?
What makes me/us uncomfortable with talking about power?
Is power moving? If yes, from where to where?
Has the purpose of the gathering shifted? If yes, to what?
Patterns of power dynamics emerge among people who are spending time together to improve their cities and communities. If things feel wobbly, it may well have something to do with power.
8 Strategies to navigate power patterns
The strategies below are helpful for both hosts and participants in the variations of the host-attractor and host-on-the-rim patterns:
State the desired pattern. Either pattern is appropriate, but it is essential to identify which pattern is the one you want to live into and make this clear for the group. While this is a good statement to be made by hosts, it is helpful if stated by participants in both patterns. Hosts and participants both show up better when the pattern is clear. If a transition is underway, knowing which pattern you are moving from and to, and for what purpose, is helpful.
Make the role of the host-attractor explicit in the host-attractor pattern. If the host-attractor pattern is desired, the host can describe how they will show up: “I am a teacher in this community and I have a different role from participants. This is what you can expect of me (roles and responsibilities)…”
Make the role of the host explicit in the host-on-the-rim pattern. If the host-on-the-rim pattern is desired, the host can describe how they will show up: “I am a participant in this group, taking a turn as host at this time. This is what you can expect of me (roles and responsibilities)…”
Notice the presence of a host-attractor in the host-on-the-rim pattern. The presence of a host-attractor in a community setting is best served by acknowledgement of the impact of their presence. A host-attractor can describe how they will show up: “I have been a teacher in this community and I have had a different role from participants. This is what you can expect of me now that I am not taking a leadership role…” A participant can also say this. This understanding may shift and change over time, and noticing this often—and how it is shifting—is helpful for both hosts and participants.
Make the role of the participants clear. In either pattern, offering some boundaries about what it means to be a participant is an essential contribution to creating quality social habitat. This is most often done through the use of agreements, or ground rules. If the host-attractor pattern is desired, make the boundaries clear about the degree of participation and questioning that will align with the learning objectives. If the host-on-the-rim pattern is desired, the boundaries/agreements must be explored and agreed upon, along with the additional expectation that participants will take turns serving as host.
Resist the urge to do what is expected of the ‘other’ pattern. If there is one pattern you are living into, the other pattern always has a pull to be aware of. In the host-on-the-rim pattern, the group (host and participants) could have a tendency to look to a host-attractor for direction or approval. All must be vigilant to not step into this territory or they will activate and reinforce the host-attractor pattern and destabilize the community. There is a particular responsibility for the host-attractor to not give direction or approval and consistently redirect that energy back to the community. In the host-attractor pattern, the group will have a tendency to resist the authority of the host-attractor if longing for a sense of community with less hierarchy. All must be vigilant about the aligning the appropriate responsibility—and authority—with the host-attractor as agreed. (Note #1: participation in the host-attractor pattern is a choice. Clear purpose and boundaries articulated by the host-attractor are a good start, yet the ultimate decision to participate is made by participants. Note #2: there is great trust placed in the host-attractor to not overstep the granted authority.)
Acknowledge ego, identity and community. Embedded in these two patterns, and the variations of patterns in between them, is ego and identity at two scales simultaneously: the self and the community. The hosts are front and center, with potential for a lot of ego and identity investment, or on the rim, where the ego and identity is blended with the wider community. Self-identity and community-identity are not necessarily at cross-purposes but can be felt to be. This dynamic is at the heart of the relationship between these two dancing partners, and all the shadow and projection we bring as our imperfectly perfect selves into community.
Explore conflict with humility and heart. If the pattern is not clear, an unclear host-attractor role is present and this will generate conflict in the group. Hosts and participants alike need to explore which pattern is desired and the steps needed to embody that pattern. If the host-attractor pattern is desired, it may be necessary for the host-attractor to step more fully into that role, with clearly articulated expectations of the host and participants and allow space for participants and host to digest discuss. If the host-on-the-rim pattern is desired, there is a need for the participants to step forward and for the host-attractor to step back. In both situations, regular checking-in on progress is essential. Moreover, an explicit invitation can be made to all involved to notice—and state—the drift whenever it occurs.
While practicing these strategies…
Behind the scenes, three principles will help you practice the above strategies. The first principle is that participation in the host-attractor pattern is a choice. Clear purpose and boundaries articulated by the host-attractor are a good start, yet the ultimate decision to participate is made by participants.
A second principle is to recognize that there is participants place great trust placed in the host-attractor to not overstep the granted authority. There is a power imbalance in play but it is participants’ choice to grant a host-attractor authority and power.
Last, it is vital to remember that there is no room for the rescue energy of a hero. A host-attractor can be imagined as a host-hero, the person on whom participants rely on for answers and action, which means participants don’t have answers or insights themselves. It also means that participants do not need to take action.
The presence of a host-hero, or deference to misplaced host-attractor authority, means any possible disturbances are deflected and denied. And if disturbance is deflected we deny ourselves the experience of disturbance. We deprive ourselves of an opportunity for growth.
“If disturbance is deflected we are denying ourselves the experience of disturbance. We deprive ourselves of an opportunity for growth.”
It is not easy work, but exploring the power dynamics in play between and among the hosts and participants in any gathering is time well spent. I younger me would say, “I wish I knew then what I know now,” and beat myself up a bit. Instead I offer myself opportunities for reflection with every gathering I host: Which pattern do we choose? Is it still the right pattern? Are we really doing it?
This is the third post in a series about “how much of me” to put in while hosting community that wants to be in conversation with itself. (This content first appeared to subscribers in the Nest City News in May 2018.)
How Much Me? The big facilitation question (An orientation to the host-attractor and host-on-the-rim patterns.)
Power Patterns in ‘Wobbly’ Circles: Clear roles for hosts and participants help us navigate power patterns (Dig a little deeper into the host-attractor and host-on-the-rim patterns.)
Navigate Underlying Power Patterns with These 8 Strategies: How to handle power imbalances in community gatherings
REFLECTION
In what conditions are you comfortable talking about power in a group?
What power are you conscious of having?
What power might you be unconscious of having?
Who can give you feedback about the power you have and how you use it?
How do you practice being open to hearing about the power you have?
First posted on February 9, 2019 at www.populus.ca