Whether we acknowledge it or not, power is at play in the workplace. The key is to understand your own power and the power dynamics so you and your team can accomplish great things together. But how do you start a conversation on such a sensitive and often awkward topic?

Today’s guest is Catherine Bell. Catherine is a Professional Certified Coach, facilitator, and nonprofit consultant who has spent two decades working collaboratively with people to unleash their power as change-makers. She specializes in coaching for antiracist leadership, as well as career development, navigating challenging interpersonal and team dynamics, and nonprofit leadership and management.

Catherine and I talk about power in the workplace–what the sources of power are, where power dynamics show up and how we can navigate power differences, how we can own and expand our power while helping our team members own and grow theirs, and so much more.

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Conversation Topics

(00:00) Intro
(02:08) What is power, specifically power in the workplace?
(07:33) Various types of informal power
(11:31) Does power depend on context?
(17:36) How to help your team understand the power they hold
(23:29) How to reduce the risks of power differential
(27:14) A great manager Catherine has worked for
(28:27) Keep up with Catherine
(29:22) [Extended Episode Only] How to navigate the uncomfortable dynamics of unearned power
(31:32) [Extended Episode Only] Catherine’s first-hand experience in acknowledging unearned power and how it played out
(35:31) [Extended Episode Only] Navigating the power dynamics with unearned power

Additional Resources:

- Get the extended episode by Joining The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community for just $15 per month

- Read the full transcript here

- Read the related blog article here

- Follow me on Instagram here

- Visit my website for more here

Connect with Catherine:

- Follow Catherine on LinkedIn here

- Visit her website for more information here

Free 2-Pager PDF: “Resources for Understanding Power in the Workplace”

Download a free PDF that has resources and tips for learning about and navigating power in the workplace. It also includes links to helpful articles to help you learn even more.

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The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive, and great work gets done.

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282: Understanding Power in the Workplace and How It Impacts Workplace Dynamics with Catherine Bell

The Modern Manager