Dahlia Season Consulting

I hate the word “empower.” 

It implies that a person doesn’t have power until another bestows it on them. 

We may not have authority or authorization until it’s bestowed on us. Especially in a work context or a regulatory context. 

But we all have power. The real questions are do we understand what power we possess, and do we know how to occupy and utilize that power?

I can’t count the number of times that I’ve been in a coaching session with a person and they say, “I don’t like X, but I don’t have any power to change it.” Or “I wish we could do Y, but we’re not allowed.” 

I have to dig into those statements. Every time. I always ask the questions. “Who told you that you were not allowed to do Y?” or “What have you done to try and change X?” Almost always, the answers are no one and nothing. People are limiting their own ability to make change and to get things done. 

We do this all the time. Conditioned from a young age to seek approval, or permission, first from parents, then from teachers. As we become adults and start working, we bring this conditioning into our workplaces. 

Yes, it may be difficult to change something. You may need to speak about it openly, or to build a coalition of people who also want the change. You might try to change something and fail. You might risk social capital trying to bring change. 

But you might also find that many others are also desiring the same change. You may find that you have abilities to strategize, organize, persuade, experiment, and move towards change. You might find that a single conversation is enough to bring the change, as your system was already at a tipping point, and you were the catalyst to make it so.

You’ll never try if you don’t think you have the power to. 

If you want to explore your power, and what’s possible when you fully occupy it, I’m here to help you.