Leaders

Dominate / empower

This gang hold positions of authority, they are often lauded as visionaries, rising to the 'top' by championing the status quo and meritocracy. Their own experience of ‘winning’ reinforces their belief that society is a level playing field, and somehow marginalized people need to be empowered to benefit. They often forget structural violence underpins their authoritarian power and they feel justified to bully or patronize others.

Disrupt: How do you collaborate?

Reframe: How can we play together?

Keys to Solidarity: An invitation to play

Play is joyful, chaotic, dynamic, and truly collaborative. Play is about constantly negotiating the rules. Play involves curiosity and taking risks. Play requires flexibility and mindfulness.

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation." - Plato

When we are involved in group activities, there are a system of rules (hidden or obvious social contracts about acceptable group norms), that define our behaviours. Often we allow someone to call the shots, especially if they display 'leader' qualities. It is powerful to remember that at any given moment we can renegotiate these rules.

Questions

Can I create a playful engagement with others as a felt, tactile exchange of values and beliefs, so that we can negotiate our diverse stories, resources, actions and outcomes?

Why do I want to create with others? Could I do this differently?

How transparent is the process and rule-setting? Is participation voluntary?

Who benefits from my expertise? Who else could do my job?

How can I be allowed to fail, learn and grow - and enable others as I stumble through this?