The provincial council was discussing the appointment of a new superior. Among the candidates considered was also Fr. Anil. He was very hard-working, intelligent, and generous. But someone pointed out that he was also very “ambitious and power-hungry.” So, he was not appointed.
Two words that we associate often with a superior’s role are power and authority. Let us begin by examining power.
The word, “power” comes from the Latin “potere,” which means “to be able.” Power, basically, is the ability or capacity to do things. We may consider power both from a personal and interpersonal perspective. Considered from the personal perspective, power is a person’s physical, intellectual or spiritual capacity to act. From the interpersonal perspective power is the capacity to influence the behaviour of others.
Five Types of Power
Rollo May, an American psychologist, describes power, from the interpersonal perspective as “the ability to cause or prevent change.” According to him, power in itself is neutral. What makes it good or bad is the way it is exercised.
May distinguishes five types of power, depending on the way it is exercised….
Fr Jose Kuttianimattathil SDB
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