Blog 003 // Transcending Power Dynamics

In episode 003, Adam Rosendahl shares a powerful story about guiding an international team through an arts-based experience that created a deeper sense of connection across differences and cultures.

He reveals what it feels like as a facilitator when you get to help businesspeople remove their masks, go beyond the everyday, and see the humanity in one another.

“I often feel proud that I can be somebody who can open up the space for [leaders] to connect with each other and hopefully continue that momentum after they leave the room… that level of being witnessed, seen, heard, and celebrated, especially in an environment where it doesn't happen very often.” - Adam Rosendahl

This really resonated with me. As a corporate facilitator, I’ve found a lot of meaning and purpose in the moments where I got to guide a quieting of power dynamics through vulnerable sharing and personal storytelling.

Here’s a personal story about a powerful facilitation experience I once had that resulted in a therapeutic moment for an all-male executive team.

Power dynamics are present in every group situation. This is a universal truth for human beings.

It can be intimidating to be in a position where you’re guiding someone who has seemingly more power than you, like a CEO. We might feel unworthy of their time, or awkward giving them instructions. But it’s important for us as facilitators to be observers of these power dynamics, rather than get swept up into them. Because even the most powerful people are just people.

When guiding groups of “powerful” people, we’ve got to forget about power and focus on humanity.

One tool that’s really helped me do this is to imagine a powerful person as the child they once were. What did they look like? How did they carry themselves? Were they confident and adventurous, with a twinkle in their eye? Were they sullen and serious, carrying a weight of responsibility beyond their years? You don’t need to be accurate. The point is to picture the sweet little human that resides deep within the layers of power they’ve accumulated over the years.

Facilitator Tip: Imagine every leader as the child they once were

Watch yourself fall in love with the innocent human inside any powerful person, no matter how intimidating they may be.

Then watch your own fears disappear as you focus your attention instead on guiding them to connect more deeply with other sweet humans.