This month we have been considering power dynamics and would like to share Power Dynamics: A systemic Inquiry by Anna Birney, the Chief Enabling Officer at the School of Systemic Change.
“Who is benefiting, where is the burden, and how can we move to a more equitable and fair world?”
At UP Projects, we have been considering power dynamics and how vital is to be aware of them, particularly when programming panel discussions or facilitating workshops, but also in all situations in our personal and professional lives. Power Dynamics: A systemic inquiry by Anna Birney is an honest exploration of how the issue of power relates to poverty, inequality and all social and environmental challenges. Understanding power dynamics better; how they have been constructed historically, the level of power that we hold individually and organisationally, and how we might adapt our relational behaviours, will help us to work in more equitable ways. Learning more about issues of power, the level of power we hold both individually and organisationally and our responsibility to address these issues has become an important part of UP Projects’ anti-racist practice. We will endeavour to build on this across all areas of our work, and particularly when programming panel discussions, events and workshops.
"All power dynamics are fractals, that is to say that a pattern that is happening at a smaller level will be happening at a wider scale and vice versa. “
The article recommends a number of strategies for how we might address power dynamics at all scales including: ‘Minimise power-over’ including being aware of our own position and privilege, letting go of power and transitioning power and resources to others; and ‘Enable power from with-in’ including placing high value on lived experience, and modeling behaviour of being open – being acutely aware of our power and to do our inner work.
You can access the resource via this link: bit.ly/KTFB-Anna-Birney