Diversity, Power & Rank

Hidden Causes of Conflict Development & Escalation

Rho Sandberg

CLE Consulting Australia

What attracted you to the workshop?

What would you like to take

away?

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In this session…

• Discuss the relationship between diversity, power and rank

• Explore their role in the development and escalation of conflict

• Raise awareness of our own use of power and rank as mediators

and conflict facilitators

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Power potential for influence

Rank one's comparative power in any

given system or interpersonal relationship

Privilege the benefits and advantages of

one's rank

Diversity –differences– in opinion, life

experiences, gender, ethnicity, work styles

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UNDERSTANDING RANK

• Structural

• Social

• Psychological

• Moral

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STRUCTURAL RANK

Structural rank reflects the power and authority accompanying specific roles or positions.

Sources include:

• formal positions of authority

• educational qualifications

• economic status

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“Rank makes us blind” Arnold Mindell

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Why is that?

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SOCIAL RANK

Social rank tends to reflect the value systems of society, including its biases and prejudices.

Sources of social rank include:

• gender

• age

• able-bodiedness / mental capacity

• race / ethnicity

• sexual orientation

• relationship status

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PSYCHOLOGICAL RANK

• self-esteem and confidence

• emotional intelligence

• understanding the impact of one's behaviour on others

• resilience

• innate or acquired understanding of social and political systems

• charisma

• capacity for detachment

• stress tolerance

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MORAL RANK

Moral rank is derived from a sense of purpose, values or inspiration more enduring and influential than daily workplace or life challenges.

POORLY USED RANK

AN ESCALATION TRIGGER

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How do differences in diversity, power and rank

impact your work as a conflict management

practitioner?

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Five Common Problems

Power is disowned

Power is projected

Power is taken for granted

Power becomes a crutch

Power is abused

In a mediation:

What impact might YOUR structural,

social, psychological and moral rank

have?

How might you be at risk of taking

your own power and rank for granted?

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YOUR QUESTIONS …

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MORE INFORMATION

CLE Consulting Australia is proud to offer exceptional professional development retreats in Provence.

www.retreatsinprovence.com

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BLOG: www.thegritintheoyster.cleconsulting.com.au

MORE INFORMATION

www.retreatsinprovence.com.au www.conflictcoaching.com.au

www.cleconsulting.com.au rho@cleconsulting.com.au

Wising Up to Power Canberra, 7 November 2014

Melbourne, 10 November 2014