This week’s collaboration focuses on two power concepts, personal power base and empowerment, and how they are related. Regardless of the type of formal power a nurse may have, whether a novice or expert in the role as leader, each must develop a personal power base. Part of becoming a transformative leader is learning to empower others and is related to having a personal power base.

Annotate/bold each topic addressed in response:

1. What is a personal power base and what is (or has been) your plan for building one?

2. Have you had any experience with having to rebuild it because of a position change or change in practice location?

3. What was that experience like?

4. Empowering others is reciprocal in nature. What does this mean?

5. What is the relationship between having a strong personal power base and the ability to empower others?