5 Summary of Week 1

Power is a crucial force underpinning leadership practice. It can be used to control and oppress but also more positively to enhance racial equity. Hence power is defined as the capacity to shape or influence the world around you. Power is often exercised on bodies – with some people made more disposable and valuable than others. Power also works on the body by placing restrictions and freedoms on movement and space. Working on the mind, the legacy of colonialism can affect Black leadership in important ways.

Another way in which power plays out on the mind is through the corrupt practice of gaslighting, which often manifests as weaponising victimhood, ruling, exposing and collective affirmation (Smolović Jones, 2022). Next week you will continue to explore the topic of power by engaging with some important frameworks that will help you interpret your own leadership contexts.

You can now go to Week 2 [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .