Community energy: A practical guide to reclaiming power

In almost all groups that are trying to change things, some difficult dynamics can emerge. It is likely that at some point there will be disagreements and even conflict. Don’t let this discourage you, it is part of the life of the group and there are many tools and tricks for getting around these problems. Be prepared for it to happen, and be ready to deal with these situations with patience and understanding.

Bridging differences 

Be flexible with how you approach group work so that everyone can participate fully. For example, be prepared for people arriving with different expectations about behaviour in meetings: how formal they should be, how long should people speak, how acceptable it is to show when you are angry. It might take time to learn to work together. And if someone’s style is different from yours, that doesn’t mean one of you is “wrong” !

In addition, be mindful of the various capacities, personalities and abilities that exist in your team. For instance, some members may be very passionate about the project and take up time and space, resulting in other members not expressing their thoughts.

A great way to establish boundaries and rules on how to work is to agree on a basic “Ways of working document” where you decide as a group how you want to work together. Come back to the document from time to time, and make sure to share it with new members.

There may also be conflicts over vision, if someone wants to work with a conservative party for example, and others in the group don’t support this approach. It’s important to always take time to work things out as a group, and accept that everyone will have to compromise at some point. It’s also important to understand that people carry baggage from their personal life or habits from preexisting relationships into a group. Don’t take things personally, but find ways to keep the group moving forward. Having an agreed set of values and guidelines for the group can also be very helpful.

Power dynamics in the group

Groups set up because they have more power together — whether to stop open cast coal mining or put solar panels on municipal roofs. However, sometimes power is unequally distributed within a group. This is not surprising as it reflects our divided society, unequal and competitive. Finding new ways of behaving can be a life-long journey.

At times power will be consciously given to individuals: a group elects a committee which will make decisions on behalf of others for example. Power could also be delegated for a specific task, for example someone experienced in catering could be appointed head chef for a fundraiser. But in some cases, individuals accumulate power without the conscious consent of the group. This is where problems start to develop. Be conscious about informal power, and how it is distributed in your group.