Responsibility without power is both ineffective and unhealthy.
Last month I was elected secretary for my home group. I was excited to serve. But within weeks I was frustrated. I had responsibility for making sure the meeting ran smoothly but no power to actually make decisions. Every small thing required approval from the group. I felt ineffective and exhausted trying to be responsible for outcomes I couldn't influence.
Responsibility without power is both ineffective and unhealthy. This named exactly what I was experiencing. I can't be responsible for something I have no power to affect. That's not just ineffective – it's unhealthy. It recreates the dynamic I lived with in active alcoholism where I was held responsible for the alcoholic's drinking but had no power to control it.
Concept Six teaches me that responsibility and power must go together. If I accept responsibility I need the authority to act. If I don't have power I can't accept full responsibility. This applies to service positions and to my whole life. I'm learning to assess: Do I have the power to affect this outcome? If not I can't take responsibility for it.
This distinction protects me from the trap of feeling responsible for things I'm powerless over.
Practice
When I'm feeling responsible for something, I can ask: Do I actually have the power to affect this outcome? If not, I can release the responsibility. Holding myself accountable for things I'm powerless over is both ineffective and unhealthy. Responsibility and power must go together.
Today’s Reminder
Responsibility requires power to be healthy.
