Living in the Power Zone: How Right Use of Power Can Transform Your Relationships

by Cedar Barstow, Reynold Feldman

Living in the Power Zone means:

• Balancing your personal or role power with compassion whether you are in an up- or down-power position;
• Staying connected and being accountable in all your relationships;
• Empowering people and affecting situations positively;
• Preventing, reducing, resolving, and repairing interpersonal harm;
• Promoting well-being; and
• Serving the common good.

We live in a complex, often daunting world where power differences both exist and matter. Power moreover is often misused. Most of us have had at least one superior who was unfair, even abusive. Misuse of power also happens in families, schools, religious institutions, the military, government, and elsewhere. Sometimes, consciously or unconsciously, we have used our own power in ways hurtful to others. We thus all need to learn to use it with greater sensitivity and skill.

This short, practical book will help you successfully navigate the rapids of real-world power and transform all your relationships for the better. It will teach you to live in the Power Zone.

182 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 13, 2014

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recognizing how power works

A practical book that helps readers learn to appreciate that power is a gift to be properly managed, as opposed to ignored or suppressed (i.e., idea of dissolving hierarchies). Among the most helpful ideas are the following:

- ethics of power are not the same as intentions, but how power is actually used
- everyone finds themselves in an up- or down-power position in any number of circumstances, and needs to learn how to navigate what this means (understanding power differentials)
- those in up-power positions bear more responsibility for ensuring that situations with down-power are managed well
- everyone must take responsibility for using their power well, regardless of what measure they have at their disposal

This book would be especially helpful within religious organizations where at times power differentials may not be given proper attention, leading to unintentional but real organizational injury for those in down-power positions.

[Mark W Neville · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must Read!

This is a must read for improving the quality of your own life as well as the lives of all others.