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Day 34: POWER

by Sara Barnes

Power in conflict resolution:

Some of the content below is excerpted from Dissecting Power and How it Influences Conflict 

by Ellen Kandell

Power is the ability to influence an outcome or complete a task. To understand power, it is vital to know the context in which it is being exerted and the other forces and influences in play.

In the context of conflict, power is defined as the ability to get one’s needs met. For a conflict to be resolved through shared effort, each person involved must have some degree of power and the ability to influence the outcome of the conflict.

Understanding Structural and Personal Power:

Power is an elusive concept because it has so many manifestations. Everyone has many potential sources of power -- some are independent of a potential conflict while others can be enhanced or diminished by the process of conflict.

Key Types of Power:

FORMAL: Authority given by an institution, by a set of laws or policies or by virtue of one’s position, such as principal, board president or city council member.

LEGAL: Rights and choices defined by law or policy and the related resources a person has to pursue legal action.

INFORMATION: Data and knowledge. If one party to a conflict has information that the other doesn’t, then they may have power in a conflict.

ASSOCIATION: This power comes from the connection with other people or groups, such as political entities, trade associations or other organization.

RESOURCES: The ability to control resources, whether tangible in the form of money, labor or time, or intangible, such as reputation and stamina.

REWARDS AND SANCTIONS: The ability to confer benefits or rewards and impose sanctions or penalties.

MORALS: Power can flow from an appeal to the values, beliefs and ethics, or from an attack on the values of those with whom you are in conflict.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: This power derives from an individual’s inherent make up, such as their perseverance, endurance, intelligence, communication skills, determination, and emotional and physical strength.

Some of these types of power are compatible with each other

while others aren't.

For Example:

• A person with tangible resources may be effectively able to use the threat of a lawsuit to negotiate a settlement.
• The use of an appeal to morals may not be effective if someone doesn’t have the personal characteristics to evoke this use of power.
• In the workplace context, a manager may have formal authority based on her position, but her power may be diminished if she doesn’t have the skills to manage people.

This is why the process of conflict resolution is so important: When balance is created through a temporary conflict resolution structure such as mediation or facilitation,

mutually beneficial decisions can emerge.

 New Year's Eve - whether you wear polka dots (Phillipines), eat black eyed peas and greens (Southern US), wear white while jumping in the Ocean (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), throw a bucket of water out the door (Cuba) smash pomegranates (Greece) or have 12 seconds of silence (Russia) a new year is a new beginning to celebrate!

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