Professional Power

As Alice walker said: “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any”. This is really true. Unless we believe ourselves to be potent we cannot even image the changes we desire. Without the freedom to contemplate what we really want we have little or no ability to put it in place. 
Equally I have learned that thinking you have no power doesn’t mean others see you in the same way. Not owning our power can have alarming consequences. 
It took me an age to work out why a Colleague was being slightly ‘off’ with me. I liked and respected her. I was really drawn to her as an individual and as a professional. I swiftly assumed she didn’t like me when after a couple of interactions she seemed less than engaged…… It felt uncomfortable and easier to stay away.
We met again about 6 months later and this time we really connected. I think she is fabulous and I was delighted. As we left the meeting I found myself saying “great, all that tension between XYZ & I has dissolved”. My friend looked at me and replied quietly “well that was bound to happen with two powerful women in one room.”
Slowly I realised that she meant that I was one of those powerful women…. It was quite a shock…
And now I own that I have power, I can use it gently and kindly and thus it is incredibly effective…
Have you claimed your power yet?
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