Infinite Power

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Infinite Power

Our basic assumptions about power have a profound impact on our behavior and conse-quently our personal and professional success. The chart below outlines the consequences of viewing power as scarce-the Finite Perspective, or abundant-the Infinite Perspective. Too often we automatically chose the finite perspective with its inherent power-limiting consequences. With the awareness offered, you can begin to more consciously chose the Infinite Perspective with its expansive potential if and only if it is appropriate to the situation at hand.

The Finite Perspective	The Infinite Perspective
Fundamental supposition: Power is scarce.	Fundamental supposition: Power is abundant
A zero-sum, win/lose game.	A positive-sum, win/win game.
The purpose of playing a finite game is to establish a winner.	The purpose of playing an infinite game is to continue and maintain play of the game.
Playing finitely easily evokes defence of self-esteem and identity. Deception and secrecy become strategies of choice.	Playing infinitely evokes cooperation and openness while not allowing one's self to lose.
This is a game to be played very seriously whenever the survival of our self-esteem or sense of identity is at stake.	This is a game to be played well-even play-fully-because our self-esteem or sense of identity is not at stake.
Differences are used to define who is winner and who is loser. Differences are, therefore, threatening. Conformity is safe.	Differences are valued and safe. As the only source of learning, differences stimulate curiosity, creativity, and synergy.
As players, we freely choose to play finitely although we often lose sight of there being an alternative.	As players, we freely choose to play infinitely whenever we remember it as a possibility.
"Power is scarce" is a self-fulfilling win/lose prophecy because partnerships are temporary and finite in number.	"Power is abundant" is a self-fulfilling, win/win prophecy because potential partnerships are secure and infinite in number.
The finite perspective is the paradigm of choice when survival is a moment-to-moment issue.	The infinite perspective is the paradigm of choice when growth and learning are primary goals.

The win/lose of the finite perspective always becomes lose/lose if one's sense of self-esteem or identity is at stake and actual physical survival is not.