7 Strategies to Shift Power Within Your Capacity Building Efforts

As a leader-facilitator, your role is more about channeling power and less about holding power. Power is energy; you are like the conduit that keeps power moving to and through all the participants toward a common mission. Each individual already has great power within themselves.

As you seek to inspire what’s possible, use these strategies to recognize individuals’ power and keep the energy of the group moving forward.

1. Set a clear vision. Participants/staff members need to know what the project is meant to accomplish and how you plan to support staff in meeting project goals in order to be successful.

2. Make community building a priority! Let your participants/staff know that you value them by getting to know who they are as a human being. What is their story? Make space for them to get to know and support one another as well.

3. Set a clear and consistent support structure. Participants/staff members who are held to high expectations, but receive little support are likely to become disillusioned and give up. Support structures may include individual and group supervision, coaching sessions, providing a mentor, professional development workshops, etc.

4. Listen to your staff. Participants/staff members need to be heard in order to build trust and feel like you mean it when you say their voice matters. Listen to understand. Listen to learn. Listen to find the strengths and passions they are bringing and may not yet see in themselves.

5. Institute a culture in which all voices matter. Honor the gifts, experiences, and contributions of staff by actively engaging them in problem solving of common challenges, making recommendations for project improvements, and providing leadership opportunities.

6. Be transparent. Be transparent about your expectations, the supports you will provide, and about your decision-making process. Participants/staff members are more likely to persevere when they are clear about mutual expectations and accountability.

7. Follow through. Following through builds trust by demonstrating to People that they can count on you to keep your word. Like Don Miguel Ruiz says, “Be impeccable with your word.” Do everything you can to keep your word and do what you said you would.

Want to re-think power in your capacity building and leadership efforts? Schedule a call. We’ve got you. And you’ve got this. ❤️