Explorer Log: Entry 3 - Power in Leadership

The concept of power in leadership is as old as human existence and there are different constructs and theories of leadership power. One such framework is the social sciences concept of Power Over versus Power With.

Power Over relies on hierarchy, utilizes threat, and emphasizes scarcity (real or perceived). 

Power With relies on collaboration, builds connection, and emphasizes community. 

These two translate into very different leadership styles when applied in action. Power Over leads to a sense of dividing and conquering, is based on a win-lose competition, and is highly competitive and even domineering. Power With works on the basis that we are stronger together, seeks out win-win scenarios, and is focused more on working cooperatively than coming out on top. 

Of course there are upsides and downsides to each style. Power Over can get things done quickly when Power With’s collaborative approach may be slower. Power With can be a strong influencing tactic in winning hearts and minds compared to Power Over given its more dictatorial nature. And I will say that no single leadership style works all of the time - when it comes to leadership styles, awareness and adaptability are key. 

In spring 2025 we’re seeing a Power Over leadership style play out in the US federal government. There’s no real adaptability of note coming from White House leadership, it’s a pure Power Over approach. Even in Congress the bill that passed in March 2025 to avoid a government shut down was written exclusively by a single party, no collaboration involved. Power Over. 

In corporations, research shows that there is a competitive financial advantage to leading with a Power With style. Bain & Company researched a decade of data to understand the relationship between shareholder returns and financial performance. They found that companies that emphasized value creation for nonfinancial stakeholders (e.g. customers, suppliers, employees, communities) were also in the top half of financial performance over ten years. “Historically, many people have assumed that striving to create value for all stakeholders comes at the expense of shareholders. Bain’s analysis proved that this assumption is wrong” (“The Power of Strategic Fit”, Rigby, Darrell and Zach First, HBR 2025 Vol. 103, Issue 2, pg 49). Put simply, when organizations work toward the benefit of most stakeholders, everyone benefits. Power With.

In my experience as a college athlete, Power With is the only way to win a team sport. As a rower, I was trained to move in unison. Even with a single star athlete, it is possible to maintain a Power With camaraderie. Some professional soccer teams are a great example of this singular Star Power coupled with Power With leadership. It really comes down to leadership style, vision, communication and collaboration.

Power Over is the antithesis of team effort. Indeed, on the UPenn crew team we risked flipping the boat if we “caught a crab” as a result of not rowing together. If one side was pulling more strongly than the other the boat would turn, much to the chagrin of our coxswain. Even as a hiker, which is not exactly a team sport, I know that we only move as fast as our slowest climber in order to stay together and stay safe. In the wild, Power Over can lead to abandonment, injury and worse. 

So why do we treat our organizations differently? Both corporations and government institutions are more akin to team sports than not. When we think about power in leadership, what might it look like to lead, strategize and execute from the position of Power With?

⭐️ I am deeply invested in you being the best leader that you can be, and partner with clients on three things:

✅ Bringing calm to the chaos

✅ Having clarity in decision making

✅ Maintaining confidence in their leadership

That’s what you get when you work with me - ✨ calm, clarity, and confidence. Interested? Curious? Know someone who might benefit from this work? Let me know and let's explore, together.

Schedule a free introductory call: https://calendly.com/mcl_coach/30min 

Copyright 2025 MCL Coaching & Consulting LLC