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David Stuart's avatar

This is a very solid idea for a book. Talking about and acting on power is missing in much corporate and government discourse except in threatened spaces like DEI, and at uni it’s everywhere except the bit about what to do next. So power literacy that directs towards agency and change sounds perfectly dangerous and important.

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Alicia McKay's avatar

“At uni it’s everywhere except the bit about what to do next” - this is bang on and very helpful in my outlining thank you David

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Nicola Mackenzie's avatar

Kia ora Alicia,

I know you must get a flood of messages, but your recent Substack on “Power Literacy” absolutely hit home for me—especially your call to see the invisible architecture of power behind change, adaptation, and what stories get told (or silenced). I’m currently completing my Master’s thesis on unlearning in the face of AI-driven disruption, and your framing of power, narrative, and hidden systems is the missing piece so many “critical thinking” conversations ignore.

If you’re open to it, I’d be deeply grateful to include your perspective in my research findings. Just a brief answer to any of these would add immense value (and I’m happy to share back my findings or cite you directly if useful):

1. In your view, what’s the most persistent invisible power dynamic that blocks meaningful unlearning or change in organisations or society?

2. What’s the “left unsaid” or “unacknowledged value” around AI-driven change, in your experience?

3. Have you ever seen a moment where “critical thinking” alone failed to shift a system—because power (not logic) decided the outcome?

My research is focusing not just on what people say about change, but what they can’t say—what power hides, who gets to adapt, and who gets left behind. Your thinking on power literacy and systemic truth-telling would lift my work to a whole new level.

Thank you for putting this kind of conversation into the world, and if you have time to reply, even in a sentence or two, it would mean a great deal. Either way, I’m cheering for your work.

Ngā mihi nui,

Nicola

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Alicia McKay's avatar

Thanks Nicola, drop me a line and I’ll chat with you by email.

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Suzie T's avatar

As I hooned through this article - I was literally thinking this is such a rich seam to be mined - be great if AM wrote a whole navigation guide to this stuff. Applaud the audience ask too. Definitely do it 👍🏼

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Alicia McKay's avatar

Great feedback, thanks!

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Zoë Routh's avatar

Loved this article Alicia! I would love your take on power. I think Power Literacy would be an awesome title, imho. The systems lens applied to power dynamics is a great strategic thinking tool. Add interpersonal traps and drivers and you get the architecture and the inhabitants. More please!

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Alicia McKay's avatar

I had the same thought (re title) on my walk yesterday afternoon! We are vibing xx

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Zoë Routh's avatar

Definitely! Especially since I just released my own book on power—Power Games! We need more conversations about power.

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Martin Garrood's avatar

The book sounds great - I learned only just enough critical thinking whilst doing two degrees in science and engineering, and certainly got nothing on critical analysis from my high school education.

What I think would be really useful right now, is for you to publicly dissect a number of the statements put out by politicians, businesses, mainstream media, academics, scientists - hell anyone who puts their views out there - and show people what proper critical analysis looks like - these would be great case studies for the book later, but if you wait until you have finished writing it and people other than "us" have read your book, then I fear so much more damage will have been done to our society before enough people have the tools to critique the endless stream of bullsh1t we get fed on.

Building the airplane while teaching us how to fly it (to modify a management-speak saying), is what we need right now, otherwise a major crash is coming

An afterthought - maybe the "public dissections" are something a group could do, to add more perspectives, and share the workload - plenty of great substackers and their followers out there to help, so that you dont have to do it all yourself (I have time on my hands right now to help)

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Alicia McKay's avatar

Ooh you’re a thinker! If you can believe it based on my Substack, I’m actually on sabbatical until September, but this suggestion is definitely tempting.

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Martin Garrood's avatar

Busy brains never sleep or go on sabbatical! So, perhaps, start it in November, and do a 12 month series of case studies, counting down to the general election - I suspect the messaging from the current Coalition will change rapidly as they go into election mode, and "attacks" on the opposition parties will increade exponentially.

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James Adams's avatar

I don't comment often but, when I do, it's to tell you I would read the hell out of that book.

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Alicia McKay's avatar

🍻

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Michelle Stanton's avatar

Definitely write the book. I'd read it.

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Alicia McKay's avatar

👏🏻

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Loretta's avatar

Yes please Alicia. The book is so needed. Great analysts. I would recommend a more accessible title. Thanks

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BJM's avatar

Please write the book. Including a chapter or twelve about how women’s voices are still silenced through the “clever” use of systems and stories.

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Linda Fowler's avatar

Yes to the book!

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