The Power Compass

Dr Steve Vinay Gunther & Dr Paul Donovan

Weilding authority can be exhilarating; it can also become a Danger Zone where honest feedback vanishes and sensibility gives way to excess—a risk for every manager, parent, or leader. Hosted by Drs. Paul Donovan and Steve Vinay Gunther, The Power Compass is your ‘Driver’s Ed’ for the responsibile use of influence. Master the Art of Power by balancing strength with heart. Outsmart the traps of the Power Paradox, build your 11-source Power Battery, and map your unique Powerprint. Shift from ‘power-over' to generative ‘power-with’, and learn to lead with wisdom in the Power Zone.

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    Introduction to all Things Power: Why We Avoid Talking About Power | The Psychology of Leadership and Influence

    • Why power is often called “the last taboo” • Power over, power with, and power to — three core dynamics explained • Personal power vs. role power vs. social status power • A first look at the power paradox and why leaders get stranger as they rise • Introducing the 150% principle for high-rank relationships • Real-world examples from couples therapy and a corporate power struggle • The mission behind The Power Compass podcast In the opening episode of the Power Compass podcast, Drs. Vinay and Paul explain why they're devoting a whole series to power — a topic they argue is harder to talk about than sex, precisely because most of us first experience it as something used against us. They introduce the foundational distinctions the series will return to again and again: power over, power with, and power to; personal power versus role power versus social status power; and give a first preview of two ideas explored later in depth, the power paradox (how gaining rank quietly erodes empathy and self-awareness) and the 150% principle (why those with more rank carry disproportionate responsibility for a relationship's health). Using examples from couples therapy, a corporate team caught between formal and informal authority, and their own coaching work, they lay out their mission: to make the normally invisible dynamics of power visible, so people can wield it — over others, with others, and toward a purpose — more consciously and skilfully.

    Introduction to all Things Power: Why We Avoid Talking About Power | The Psychology of Leadership and Influence
  • 1 Episode

About

Weilding authority can be exhilarating; it can also become a Danger Zone where honest feedback vanishes and sensibility gives way to excess—a risk for every manager, parent, or leader. Hosted by Drs. Paul Donovan and Steve Vinay Gunther, The Power Compass is your ‘Driver’s Ed’ for the responsibile use of influence. Master the Art of Power by balancing strength with heart. Outsmart the traps of the Power Paradox, build your 11-source Power Battery, and map your unique Powerprint. Shift from ‘power-over' to generative ‘power-with’, and learn to lead with wisdom in the Power Zone.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr Steve Vinay Gunther & Dr Paul Donovan
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    1
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Steve Vinay Gunther
  • Show Website
    The Power Compass