Step 2: Ask, “How do you feel about your own power?” Write “Power
Means... .” on the flipchart. Elicit responses and write key words on
the flipchart.
Step 3: Distribute the Handout 25.1, Exploring My Personal Power,and ask
participants to complete it in approximately 10 minutes. Remind them
to “be as honest and open as they can be in completing the questions.
Also, to try to always think of business examples.”
Step 4: Form dyads and ask them to share some of the insights from what they
wrote on the handout. Allow a few to report back to the group as a whole.
Step 5: Ask them to look at the posters or pictures of famous leaders you have
on the wall and then to stand by the one that represents a powerful
person to them.
Solicit reasons why they think these people are powerful. Write key
responses on the flipchart.
Step 6: Ask, “Give me examples of a powerless person and explain your choice.”
Write key responses on the flipchart.
Ask someone to volunteer to stand or sit like a powerless person
would. Then, ask her or him to stay in that position and have the others
comment.
Step 7: Then ask a second volunteer to stand or sit like a powerful person. While
holding this stance, ask for comments. Some answers might include: The
person acts confident. The body takes up ‘space.’ He or she stands firmly
with both feet. The face may have controlled facial expression; alert but
not highly emotional.
Ask them to share the answer to this question in their same dyad.
“Which type of person do you want to be and why?”
Step 8: Ask, “Do you know what your power is dependent upon?” Solicit some
answers until someone suggests that one connection is self-concept.
Distribute Handout 25.2, Sunshine and Clouds.Silently each person writes
one to three beliefs that relate to personal power, beliefs that they hold
about themselves for each of the following categories:
- Intellectual
- Physical
- Emotional
- Spiritual
TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE^135