A Partnership Model

A Six leader and her team met to define a leadership model reflecting their values as supporters of abused women. They made explicit the characteristics of a traditional power-based system, contrasted with their own vision of an equality-based system -- a true partnership:

Power-Based Systems
(control behavior)*

- Don't share feelings
- Don't take a stand

- Don't accept criticism

- Don't listen to others
- Don't depend on others

- Don't admit mistakes
- Cover up skill deficiencies
(or fear of them)

- Withhold information

- Break promises/agreements

Equality-Based Systems
(resilience, harmony, meaning)

- Be self-disclosing

- Mutual accountability for
problems

- Acknowledge what others
say, feel

- Admit mistakes, fears, not
knowing

- Give importance to all
agendas

- Be consistent, honor
agreements

- Give time to process:
. Descriptive feedback
. "I" statements