Executive Coaching: Power vs. Force (part1)

Recently, I’ve been integrating several integral models in my executive coaching work. Specifically, Dr. David Hawkins’ work with Power vs. Force, James Flaherty’s model of concentrating power, and Riso and Hudson’s “level of development” tradition of the Enneagram.

Essentially, we can slide down the slippery slope from “power to” (competence) into “power over” (domination). In other words, we can move from effectiveness into ineffectiveness, from operating from groundedness to operating from ungroundedness. Below is a chart that distinguishes power from force, according to David Hawkins:

POWER	FORCE
Is self-evident and not arguable, therefore not subject to proof	Is arguable and therefore requires constant defense and proof
Power “to” (competence)	Power “over” (domination)
Associated with the whole	Associated with the partial or incomplete
Its effect is to unify	Its effect is to polarize
Does not move against opposition	Automatically creates counter-force to push against
Requires no justification	Must always be justified
Energizes, gives forth, supplies and supports	Has an insatiable appetite and constantly consumes
Is still, a standing field	Is a movement, tries to get from here to there
Arises from meaning, motive and principal	Arises from transient goals; when reached, the emptiness of meaninglessness remains
Associated with health, vitality and life	Associated with sickness, disease and death

In the Enneagram model, the “stress points,” or direction of Disintegration moves us from “power” to “force.” Conversely, the “growth points,” or direction of Integration moves from “force” back to “power.” We move back and forth from “power” to “force” all the time, in different situations, and with different people.  How often we move back and forth, and how long we’re able to sustain “power” are good indicators of high emotional intelligence.

Growth "Force to Growth": 1>7>5>8>2>4>1  3>6>9>3

Stress Points "Growth to Force": 1>4>2>8>5>7>1  3>9>6>3

Enneagram Descriptions: http://trinityperformancegroup.blogspot.com/2011/09/enneagram-descriptions.html

In part two we will examine how the basic fears of each type therefore erode “power” by our unconscious strategies to avoid feeling the fear and how we shift back and forth between "power" and "force."

Sandy Hogan is an executive coach headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. Through integral coaching, teaching, writing and speaking she is dedicated to “evoking of others the highest in themselves.” She infuses compassion and creativity into her coaching style and philosophy, working with clients’ particular leadership issues, backgrounds, disciplines, careers, goals, and views of life. Her clients are corporate executives, management professionals, non-profit and community leaders, and people who find themselves in the midst of major transitions. More on Sandy >