Reflection: The Avarna video discusses 6 sources of power: (1) ideas; (2) social norms; (3) rules and regulations; (4) people power; (5) money; and (6) physical and psychological force. After viewing the video, reflect and write down some notes about the questions below. Like the video, these can be examples of power that you view as good, bad, mixed, or neutral. We’re just trying to identify how power functions in the work you do:
- What are some ideas that have a lot of power in your organization?
- What ideas underpin and uphold the mission work you do?
- What ideas underpin how your organization functions (e.g. hard work is a virtue)
- What are some social norms that are present in the work you do (either in your mission based work or in your organizational culture)?
- What are some rules and regulations that have been codified in either your mission work or organizational structures that reinforce the ideas and social norms? (this can be about the policies that you advocate for, programs you create, or organizational policies that you create)
- How has your organization used “people power” to affect change?
- How does money and funding impact the type of work you do and the organizational structures?
- How does physical or psychological force play into the work you do? In the video, we provided examples of psychological and physical force that both are negative examples, but there can also be positive examples of physical and psychological force. For example, we can take action that makes people feel more physically or psychologically welcome or safe.
