You are in a Position of Power (Yes, You)
Part 1 of a 2-Part Series on Power, Personal Influence, and Allyship
You Have More Power Than You Think
Most of us can name the moments at work when we’ve felt disempowered—talked over in a meeting, left out of a decision, or unsure whether our ideas would land. Those experiences are real, and they stick with us.
But what’s often harder to notice are the moments when we’re actually in a power position.
Maybe we’re the one who understands how the system works.
Maybe people wait for us to speak before moving on.
Maybe we’re the connector, the translator, or the person who can calm a tense room.
Power doesn’t just belong to the CEO, the VP, or someone with a fancy title.It shows up in everyday ways—through trust, credibility, and quiet influence.
This post kicks off a two-part series about understanding your personal power and using it with intention:
This week (Part 1): How to recognize the power you already hold—formally or informally.
Next week (Part 2): How to use that power to be an ally and create space for others.
The truth? You likely have more influence than you give yourself credit for. People notice what you say, how you act, and where you focus. Let’s help you notice it too.
Power Isn’t Just About Job Titles:
There are two kinds of power that show up at work:
🏛 Formal Power
Comes with your title, role, or seniority
You manage others or lead initiatives
You set deadlines, assign work, approve budgets
You receive formal recognition/compensation for work performed
🤫 Informal Power
Comes from how others respond to you
You might be the one who gets things moving, smooths over tension, or knows where to go for answers
You are recognized for your expertise, relationships, institutional knowledge, or even just your presence in the “right rooms”
But there are other power sources to watch for:
💼 Revenue influence: If you’re seen as someone who helps bring in or retain business, your voice tends to carry.
🔗 Informal networks: Some people aren’t decision-makers on paper—but everyone knows they’re the person who gets things done.
🎓 Expertise and credentials: In some workplaces, certain degrees or communication styles are seen as “professional” by default.
📍 Shared background with leadership: Whether it’s similar work experience, education, or geography—those who “feel familiar” are often given more room to speak or lead.
Your influence may stem from a mix of these—often in ways you’ve never explicitly named.
Obstacles and Dragons: Why It’s Hard to See Your Own Power
As part of my ongoing approach, I often talk about two categories of challenge we face at work:
Obstacles—the external barriers that stand between us and what we’re trying to achieve
Dragons—the internal limiting beliefs that hold us back from taking action or seeing ourselves clearly
When it comes to recognizing our own power, both of these show up in subtle, persistent ways.
🔎 So what are the obstacles in this case?
The obstacles to recognizing power are the systems and structures we see as “neutral” but in fact give us power and access.
When things work for us—when we’re invited to the meeting, encouraged to speak, or taken seriously—we tend to assume that’s just “how things work.” We rarely stop to consider that others might not have the same ease of entry.
⚡⚡ It is easy to see obstacles when they keep us out, but they are much harder to spot when they quietly let us in.
🔎 And what are the dragons that we need to watch out for?
The dragons that work against us are the internal stories that keep us from seeing ourselves as powerful.
They might sound like:
“All I see are people who are comparatively more powerful than me.”
“In other rooms, I have no voice at all - why is this any different?”
“Despite the fact that I am in this room, I doubt that people believe I deserve to be here.”
That last one is especially sneaky. You might be battling imposter syndrome—worried that you’re still being evaluated, still trying to prove yourself—even as others already see you as a leader or a steady voice in the room.
And when you’ve felt disempowered in other contexts, it’s even harder to spot the moments where you do hold sway. But here is the truth:
⚡⚡ When we feel small, we often miss that others see us as big.
⚡⚡ You can feel uncertain and still hold power.
⚡⚡ You can have doubts and still be the person others defer to.
Recognizing your power doesn’t mean ignoring your dragons or pretending obstacles never existed. It means asking: “What’s actually true right now? Where do I have presence, voice, or sway that I might not be acknowledging?”
Because noticing it is the first step to using it wisely.
🧭 Power Self-Check: Where Do You Hold Influence?
It’s easy to miss the signs that others are looking to us for guidance, input, or leadership—especially when we don’t have a formal title. Try this quick self-check to identify where you may already be holding power at work:
👂Who listens when you speak?
Do people pay attention or shift direction after you share your perspective?
🤝 Who asks for your help or advice?
Are you a go-to resource for guidance, even outside your official responsibilities
✅ What decisions can’t move forward without you?
Do projects stall until you weigh in, review, or approve something?
✨ Where do others follow your lead?
Do you notice people adopt your suggestions, tools, or communication style?
🔍 Are you often “in the loop”—even informally?
Do people come to you for context, background, or “what’s really going on”?
⏩ Do you set the pace or tone in group settings?
Do others wait for your opinion before moving ahead—or mirror your energy?
🗣 Are you comfortable expressing disagreement with someone in authority?
Do you feel able to voice a different opinion to a senior colleague or leader without fear of consequence?
✔️ Do you feel confident that your presence and perspective are valid—without needing to re-justify them?
Are you able to contribute without having to repeatedly prove why your ideas and opinions are valid?
🎙 Can you speak in your natural voice—including emotion or conviction—without worrying how it will be received?
Do you feel free to express passion, concern, frustration, or excitement without fear it will be misinterpreted or used against you?
If you answered “yes” to several of these, that’s a sign you’re already holding influence—formally, informally, or both.
Power Is a Reality—And a Responsibility
Power isn’t inherently good or bad—it’s simply a reality. It shows up in who’s heard, who’s included, and who feels free to speak up, redirect, or push forward.
But it’s often hard to recognize when we’re the one holding it. Especially if we’ve felt dismissed or disempowered in other settings, it’s easy to focus on those moments and miss the influence we hold right now. And here’s the challenge: When a barrier quietly opens for us, it doesn’t feel like a barrier at all.
We see the access, not the gate. We assume the welcome is standard—when for others, it may be locked shut. That’s what makes power so difficult to see in ourselves.
Recognizing your power isn’t about ego—it’s about clarity. It’s about knowing where your voice carries, where your presence matters, and where you can shape what happens next. It’s a spotlight you may not even realize you’re holding. But once you do, you can use it with intention—and integrity.
Looking Ahead: Using Your Power to be an Ally
In next week’s post, we’ll shift from awareness to action. We’ll look at how to:
Use your visibility to ensure that valuable input isn’t lost or overlooked
Redirect the room when only a few voices are dominating
Make sure the people who are already at the table are actually empowered to contribute
Because if only a few people feel safe or encouraged to participate, then ideas go unspoken, resources get underused, and morale declines. The result? Lower-quality decisions, missed opportunities, and a slower, less effective team. Power used well creates better outcomes—period.
Stay tuned for Part 2: Now That You’ve Embraced Your Power—Here’s How to Use It, where we explore how to turn everyday influence into practical leadership.