5 Ways to Apply Power-With Principles to Your Next Project
By Jennifer Hutchinson, Founder & Principal Consultant, Transform Together Consulting
If you’ve ever led a project and felt the weight of every decision, deadline, and detail sitting squarely on your shoulders — you’re not alone.
But here’s the thing: leadership doesn’t have to mean carrying it all.
When you lead from power-with instead of power-over, the project becomes a shared effort. People feel valued, ideas flow more freely, and results often surpass what you could have achieved alone.
Here are five practical ways to apply power-with principles to your next project:
1. Build the plan together
Instead of presenting a fully formed plan, start with a framework and invite your team to shape it. This fosters ownership from the start and surfaces ideas you might not have considered.
💡 Result: People feel invested in both the process and the outcome.
2. Share decision-making power
Identify specific areas where others can take the lead in making decisions — whether it’s selecting tools, designing materials, or determining timelines.
💡 Result: Decisions are stronger because they draw on multiple perspectives and expertise.
3. Create space for all voices
In meetings, actively invite input from quieter team members or those with different lived experiences. Rotate facilitation roles so leadership is shared.
💡 Result: You’ll uncover insights and solutions that top-down leadership often misses.
4. Celebrate collaboration, not just individual achievement
When you recognize the collective effort, you signal that the culture values mutual support and shared credit.
💡 Result: Competition gives way to connection, and people are more willing to help each other succeed.
5. Practice transparency
Share relevant information about challenges, decisions, and progress openly. This builds trust and helps the team respond more effectively when things change.
💡 Result: The group adapts faster and stays aligned, even when navigating uncertainty.
The takeaway?
Power-with leadership isn’t about giving up your role — it’s about creating the conditions where everyone can lead in their own way. And when people feel empowered, trusted, and supported, the project’s success belongs to everyone.
If you’re curious about applying power-with principles to your organization’s work, let’s talk. I help mission-driven leaders create collaborative, trauma-informed systems that lead to healthier teams and better results…Contact Us!
About Jennifer Hutchinson
Jennifer Hutchinson is the Founder & Principal Consultant of Transform Together Consulting, helping mission-driven organizations build collaborative, trauma-informed systems that center power-with leadership. Drawing on decades of executive experience and a deep commitment to equity, Jennifer partners with leaders to create healthier teams, stronger programs, and greater impact. She is the creator of the Feminist Leadership Principles framework, guiding changemakers to shift from power-over cultures to sustainable, people-centered leadership.