Power Structures

Insights from the CONVERGE Canadian Lab Practitioners Exchange:

• We need to listen to people more and build constituencies with distributed leadership behind our solutions. How can we invite people who aren’t from the lab world or social innovation to be part of it from the beginning?

• Talking about power can be a taboo. There is a need for trust and secure relationships to start conversations about power dynamics in labs.

• Barriers to adoption - Labs have the potential to uncover and prototype solutions based on a deep understanding of the complex systems they are working in, but translating these into practical change can be a challenge. Campaigns are outcome-focussed with strong practices of power analysis and political engagement. Could campaign mindsets help by embedding pathways to wide adoption of solutions into lab practice?

Present Questions

• What are we collaborating for? To produce innovative products or also dismantle existing power structures? Where is power being held and how is your lab shifting that?

• Are our well-intentioned attempts at solving social problems actually further reinforcing the status quo?

• Are we too focussed on process as a way to shift thinking and action?

• How do we grapple with our own privileges and the length of time it takes to actually make the changes we want to see?

• Are we making the right decisions about deploying scarce resources for the most important outcomes?