Sharing Power at Work and at Home

How would you grade yourself on power-sharing? Do you tend to make all of the decisions at home? How about at work? Do you invite others into the discussion readily or only begrudgingly?

There is ample research to show that better solutions are arrived at when there is full and open discussion and collaboration among the stakeholders.

There’s a good reason for that: people tend to support ideas they’ve had a part in developing. Simply put, your family and your work team are more likely to buy into your ideas (and actually execute on them) if you give them a chance to participate.

Somehow it has become more manly for us to hold onto power and keep a tight rein on things. Just be aware that comes with a high cost. People are less likely to be loyal and productive with managers or fathers/husbands who are hogging the power.

There is a fair amount of research that suggests that women are more naturally collaborative/cooperative than men. That makes sense since for the most part over history women had to negotiate to get their needs met since, typically, they were dependent on the generosity of men who held the power. So maybe that is why it seems “unmanly“ to adopt this approach. Unless you are a caveman, collaboration seems to work better in today’s environment of power sharing and joint decision-making. It is just more courteous and gentlemanly and the right thing to do whether at work or at home. As for concerns about appearing unmanly, I submit that far more people (of either gender) find this collaborative approach appealing than not.

At work, women tend to have a dialogue that is more inclusive, less abrasive, and more collaborative. Their communication skills and risk aversion are credited with heading off costly decisions while inspiring more studied, deliberate approaches.

Give this idea some thought and decide whether you are missing out on some great ideas or collaborative thinking by hanging on to power too tightly. Then make a decision to include others more readily and frequently in decision-making.