Power is the ability to influence the attainment of goals sought by yourself or others. Power is inherent in all human relationships. There are three forms of power: dominance, prevention, and empowerment. Power imbalances produce several consequences: physical violence, verbal and nonverbal abuse, sexual harassment, and commonplace difficulties. Power imbalances also produce anger, frustration, wariness, and resentment in common everyday situations. Information, expertise, legitimate authority, rewards and punishments, and personal qualities are the primary power resources. Coalition formation, defiance, and resistance strategies are the chief power balancing approaches employed in dominance-prevention power struggles. Whereas dominance and prevention forms of power can produce “the dark side” of interpersonal relationships, empowerment is a very positive form of power. Becoming empowered is an important step in becoming a competent communicator. Empowerment is a win-win cooperative approach to power balancing.
