{"id":2395,"date":"2026-02-12T08:36:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T08:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dbvp.nl\/?p=2395"},"modified":"2026-05-14T08:39:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T08:39:54","slug":"de-stille-kracht-van-macht","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbvp.nl\/en\/de-stille-kracht-van-macht\/","title":{"rendered":"The Quiet Power of Power"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wij laten zien dat macht subtiel werkt en ons speelveld vormt, juist wanneer we haar niet zien.
Door onze invloed bewust te erkennen en ruimte te delen, kan macht het geheel dienen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samenvatting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Power works subtly, often without explicit instructions or pressure. Precisely because of its invisibility, it can shape relationships, decision-making, and the space for dissent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not power itself that corrupts, but our blindness to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I once heard those words from a colleague. I nodded in agreement\u2014for others. Not for myself. Because I listen, I consult, I involve people, don\u2019t I?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only much later did I realize how dangerous that image of the \u201cwell-intentioned leader\u201d can be. Power is not always forceful or harsh. It is often soft, embedded in self-evident assumptions that are not questioned. It works through tone, timing, and presence. And precisely because it is quiet, it has impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Core Insight \u2013 Power Is Assigned<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Power is not only a possession, but also an assignment. People grant you influence based on your position, your role, your reputation. This happens even if you are not aware of it\u2014or do not want it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a system in which people adjust themselves to you, your words carry extra weight, even when spoken casually. An offhand remark can shape policy. A subtle glance can silence an idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Power shapes the playing field on which others move. It influences who speaks, who stays silent, who dares to take risks. The less you see your own influence, the greater the chance that it unconsciously steers relationships and decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Shadow Side of Good Intentions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Leaders who see themselves as \u201cservant leaders\u201d run the risk of underestimating their power. Good intentions are no guarantee of a healthy power dynamic. Invisible preferences\u2014about who is credible, which style fits, which arguments count\u2014can quietly distort the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is not seen cannot be carried. And what is not carried will find an outlet: through undercurrents, passive resistance, or loyalty that slowly fades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deepening \u2013 A Practical Example<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In an organization where I was involved, there was a director known for being approachable and accessible. People felt heard. Yet some whispered that certain ideas were better not brought up. Not because he rejected them, but because \u201cit wouldn\u2019t matter anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not out of fear, but out of calculation: his preferences were already fixed. It was a sense of predictability\u2014as if the outcome was known in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was unaware of it. And that was precisely what made the power field so layered. His reactions, tone, and choice of words gave signals that seemed trivial to him, but were interpreted by others as guiding instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Conversation That Changed Everything<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When we discussed this, his first reaction was not defensiveness, but shock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo even if I mean well, I influence the field?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes. Especially then. It is not your intention, but your place in the whole that gives your words and actions a different weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Power does not need to be reduced. What is needed is awareness. Not to censor yourself, but to actively create space for others to take their place. That requires attentive listening, even when you think you already know the answer. And a willingness to slow down, so others have the chance to let their perspective be heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Quiet Signals of Power<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Power often reveals itself in small things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

- Who you address first in a meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

- How you respond to disagreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

- Whether you allow silence, or immediately fill it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

- Which topics you name\u2014and which you do not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, these signals form the invisible backdrop within which others move. They determine whether someone shares their contribution or swallows it, whether creativity is encouraged or restrained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Power and Vulnerability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Awareness of your power does not mean you must always say the right thing or act flawlessly. It means being willing to acknowledge that your presence in itself already has an effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vulnerability is not weakness here, but a bridge. By naming what you do not know, making space for difference, and remaining open to discomfort, you invite others to take responsibility for their own voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Role in the System<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In every system, power is a given. It can be abused, ignored, or acknowledged. Only in the latter case can it serve the whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That asks of you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Seeing \u2013 Be aware of the influence your words, silences, and choices have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Acknowledging \u2013 Name your position, so others know you are aware of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Sharing \u2013 Actively make space for other perspectives and show that they matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By acknowledging power as reality, you anchor trust. You make the playing field safer, without making it less sharp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing \u2013 The Invitation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Power is not a problem to be solved, but a force that can provide direction. If you see it, you can use it consciously\u2014not to protect yourself, but to serve the whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where are you more powerful than you think\u2014and what do you do with it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rene de Baaij<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wij laten zien dat macht subtiel werkt en ons speelveld vormt, juist wanneer we haar niet zien.
\nDoor onze invloed bewust te erkennen en ruimte te delen, kan macht het geheel dienen.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nederlands"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbvp.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbvp.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbvp.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbvp.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbvp.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2395"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dbvp.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2396,"href":"https:\/\/dbvp.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395\/revisions\/2396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbvp.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbvp.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbvp.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}