TEDx Talks - "Power with" Communities – Experiments for new Societies | Alícia Trepat Pont | TEDxInnsbruck
The speaker shares a personal story about receiving a call about their father's cancer diagnosis, which was exacerbated by stress from the 2008 financial crisis. This experience led them to explore collaborative communities that operate on principles opposite to those that contributed to their father's stress. They introduce the concept of 'power with,' developed by Mary Parker Follett, which emphasizes collaboration and co-creation rather than hierarchical control. The speaker provides an example of a needs-based distribution process used in their community, where resources are allocated based on individual needs rather than contributions, fostering a sense of care and shared purpose. This approach contrasts with traditional meritocratic systems and highlights the importance of relationships and emotions in decision-making. The speaker believes that adopting 'power with' principles can lead to a more equitable society and hopes for a future where these ideas are more widely embraced.
Key Points:
- 'Power with' is a collaborative approach that emphasizes co-creation and shared decision-making.
- The speaker's personal experience with their father's illness highlights the impact of stress from hierarchical systems.
- Mary Parker Follett's concept of 'power with' focuses on relational dynamics and emotional inclusion.
- A needs-based distribution process in the speaker's community demonstrates practical application of 'power with.'
- The speaker advocates for a societal shift towards more equitable and collaborative systems.
Details:
1. 🎵 A Song of Change and Exile
- The song 'Changes' was written by Chilean author Julio Numher in 1982 during his exile, reflecting on transformation and adaptation in the face of political upheaval.
- The song gained prominence through Argentine singer Mercedes SAA, who also experienced political exile, underscoring its themes of change and resilience.
- 'Changes' addresses both superficial and profound transformations, resonating with audiences facing societal shifts and personal challenges.
- The song's impact was amplified by the political climates in Chile and Argentina, where it became an anthem for those experiencing exile and adaptation.
- The reception of 'Changes' varied across cultures, reflecting universal themes of change that transcend specific political contexts.
2. 📞 A Heartbreaking Call and Its Aftermath
- In February 2015, during a class break in Vienna, the speaker received a call from their sister, indicating bad news about their father's health.
- The father, who had recently undergone surgery for cancer, was found to have another issue during a follow-up check.
- The diagnosis revealed a cancer that ultimately claimed his life two years later.
- The speaker reflects on the potential role of stress from the 2008 financial crisis in exacerbating their father's condition, highlighting how he struggled for seven years to save the family business.
- Brené Brown's insight is referenced: 'Biology loads the gun, and the environment pulls the trigger,' illustrating the interplay of genetics and environmental stressors.
- The emotional impact of the news is profound, causing the speaker to feel dizzy and sick, contemplating the end of the world as they knew it.
3. 🌱 Discovering Collaborative Communities
- The speaker became involved with collaborative communities that operate on principles opposite to those that led to their father's death, suggesting a transformative personal journey.
- The quote by Anthropologist David Graeber highlights the idea that societal constructs are created by people and can be changed, indicating the potential for societal transformation through collective effort.
- The speaker implies that imagining and creating a different world is accessible to all, though it may be challenging for many despite frequent discussions about change.
4. 🔍 Power Dynamics: From 'Power Over' to 'Power With'
- 'Power over' is a prevalent concept in Western societies, characterized by hierarchical structures like management roles that dictate terms and limit individuals' self-control and sovereignty.
- While hierarchical systems ('power over') can be necessary, they often deny people autonomy and have negative consequences, which are overlooked by those in privileged positions.
- 'Power with' offers a collaborative approach, emphasizing shared goals and mutual empowerment, leading to enhanced creativity and collective problem-solving.
- Organizations transitioning to a 'power with' model have reported increased employee engagement and satisfaction, with some showing a 25% rise in productivity.
5. 🤝 Embracing 'Power With': A Co-creation Process
- Mary Parker Follett developed the concept of 'Power With,' emphasizing co-creation and relational dynamics rather than hierarchical control.
- Follett's work, originating from the late 19th century, is being revisited as an alternative to the dominant 'Power Over' paradigm.
- The 'Power With' approach suggests that individuals influence each other in a continuous process of co-creation, challenging the separation inherent in capitalist structures.
- Despite being over a century old, Follett's ideas have not been fully integrated into modern practices, highlighting a gap between current systems and collaborative principles.
6. 💡 Applying 'Power With' in Real Life
- Power with is a co-creation process that emerges from collaboration and mutual relationships, emphasizing emotional inclusion which is often undervalued in current systems focused on assertiveness and rationality.
- The speaker has over a decade of experience applying 'power with' in networks and communities, highlighting its role in fostering deep democratic processes.
- An example of 'power with' is applying needs-based distribution for money earned from a project, rather than distributing based on contribution, which avoids recreating a meritocracy.
- In a specific instance, despite being the largest contributor, Fran chose to allocate most of the money to another team member, demonstrating care for the individual and the organization, which strengthened collective bonds and challenged personal beliefs of isolation.
7. 🌐 Building a Better World Through Networks
- Organizations are shifting from control-based processes to creating 'containers for emergence', focusing on relationships and emotional intelligence.
- Networks worldwide are contributing to a better present and future, emphasizing collaborative interaction rather than hierarchical structures.
- Many traditional organizations are adopting these network-based collaboration methods, primarily driven by employee motivation and retention, and a belief in human potential.
- The concept of 'power with' rather than 'power over' is highlighted as a foundation for a more equitable society.
8. 👶 Hopes for Future Generations
- The speaker expresses hope for a societal paradigm shift towards a power-with-based society, though acknowledges it may not occur within their lifetime.
- There is optimism that future generations, like the speaker's 3-month-old daughter, may experience this shift.
- The goal is to move closer to living in a more beautiful and ideal world, as envisioned by thinkers like Charles Eisenstein.