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Writer's picturekarenmrubinstein

Six Stages of Personal Power - What Stage Are You In?

Updated: Sep 16, 2023


life coaching tools of transformation

For my certification to become a Life Transformation Coach, I've enrolled at the Center for Transformational Coaching Our main reading is the book, "A Shift in Being," by the program's founder - Leon Vanderpol.

Real Power: Stages of Personal Power in Organizations

I just finished reading Chapter 4 and the Six Stages of Personal Power. The Six Stages come from the book, "Real Power: Stages of Personal Power in Organizations" by Janet Hagberg. Here are my reflections on my stages of development and enlightenment:


Stage 1 - powerlessness - my rock bottom of alcoholism and entering rehab three years ago. Humility and asking for help.


Stage 2 - association - the AA fellowship and my sponsor.


Stage 3 - achievement - sobriety and starting a pop-up coffee shop for people in recovery. I felt I was doing okay and focused on how to make the coffee shop grow.


I crossed over to Stage 4 - the Power of Reflection just a few months ago after the death of our beloved dog, Paisley. I've been in the achievement stage for about two years, and was pushed to the next stage by the grief of her passing. I realized something inside had changed as I suddenly began experiencing even more clarity and purpose within a month of her death. The pain caused me to look even deeper inside and draw strength from within that I didn't even realize was there.

That inner strength pushed me forward during an intense period of grief and onto my life path that connects with my core self.


I'm now in Stage 5 - purpose - With strength, clarity and faith I began to finally find myself and my life purpose - helping those sick and suffering from anxiety, depression and addiction/alcoholism.


Amazing things have been happening since I shifted to stage 5. Opportunities keep opening up and I'm doing things I'd never been able to do before. For example, public speaking. A month after our dog died, I was asked to speak in Las Vegas about my story of alcoholism and bring a message of strength and hope. I've feared speaking in public since childhood. My fear was so bad my throat would literally close. The night before my speech I woke up around 3:00 am with anxiety (which I haven't felt in years). Suddenly I heard a clear voice say, "It's not about you." With that I fell asleep and the next day was excited to walk on stage and talk! It went really well and I'm enrolled in a speaking class and already booked my first paying engagement! (And, I was wait-listed for this program and miraculously a spot opened up!)


Regarding the potential of getting "stuck" in stage 5 because of a "lack of faith." I have discovered what I had wasn't a lack of faith, but a lack of trust. I had to let go and let God, but to do that I had to have trust that the river of life would take me where I needed to go. I couldn't go back in the river until I could do that... and I have. For that, I am blessed.


Stage 6 - power by wisdom. Working on it! The power of powerlessness is something I've been pondering for a few months. I have no power over the past nor the future. The only power is in the present moment where I have the power to think and act in accordance with a higher power.


Finding what stage a client is in and where they want to be is an important tool in my Life Coaching practice and with helping others transform their lives. What stage of power do you identify with? Feel free to write me or post on the forum page!

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