StarPower Blog
What Do StarPower Participants Learn?
Power is a taboo topic for most people.
Yet, it profoundly affects the way we do business, manage organizations,
and relate to those we are supposed to serve.
StarPower is used in
cultural diversity programs, management training for younger managers
on the "fast track", training on the proper use of power for such
diverse groups as police officers, doctors, gangs, supervisors
of
factory workers and their managers.
StarPower helps participants:
- Understand that power must have a legitimate
basis to be effective.
- See and feel the effect of disempowerment.
- Realize that sharing power can increase it
while hoarding or abusing power can diminish it.
- Understand the effect that systems can have
on power.
- Be aware of how tempting it is for well-intentioned
people to abuse power.
- Understand that there are different kinds of
power.
- Personally experience and discuss the excitement
of power and the despair of powerlessness.
As part of management training, StarPower illustrates
how power affects performance, motivation and behavior. In diversity
training, StarPower provokes
discussion surrounding bias and gender, and helps examine how power
manifests itself within a diverse organization.
What Happens in StarPower?
StarPower
participants are challenged to progress from one level of society
to another by acquiring wealth through trading with others.
The
first two rounds  are
very sociable. People are laughing, talking, and having a good
time exchanging chips. Then the wealthiest group gains power.
Barriers spring up between the various levels
of the society. Communication gets strained. The group that has
the power often tries to protect their power through illegitimate
means. The others respond by giving up, organizing, or overthrowing
the power group. After the simulation winds down, participants
discuss power in safe, yet revealing, ways.
What are the minimum and maximum number of participants
for StarPower?
StarPower requires a minimum of
18 participants and as many as 35.
How much time is required for StarPower?
StarPower
is a strong half-day format. We recommend two to three hours
for this simulation — a minimum of one and a half
hours for the simulation and at least a half hour for discussion.
How is StarPower used?
Many companies use StarPower as
an introduction for multiple day workshops on management skills,
team building
or TQM training. StarPower is also used in cultural
diversity programs, management training for junior managers on
the "fast
track," and in training on the proper use of power for such
diverse groups as police officers, gangs, factory workers and
managers.
What does the StarPower Kit include?
StarPower contains all of the
materials for up to 35 participants.
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