Boards on a Tight Rope: Navigating the Power Differential in Shared Governance

The power dynamics within shared governance often make board members feel as though they're walking on a tightrope.
June 10, 2025
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Host: Rebekah Burch Basinger, Ed.D., Wise Stewards Project Director

The power dynamics within shared governance are unmistakable — boards are continually reminded that the proverbial buck stops with them. Yet, long before final decisions are made, many individuals and groups speak into, hold responsibility for, or make decisions about most issues addressed by the board, including the big ones. It’s no surprise that board members often feel as though they’re walking a tightrope.

Wise Stewards Project Director Rebekah Basinger, Ed.D., explores attitudes about power, types of power at play within shared governance, and strategies for mediating power-based tensions in institutional governance.

Please Note: We mistakenly listed Richard Topping’s name as “Richard Topper” in a quotation from his Faith & Leadership article. We apologize for the oversight.


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