If getting a bunch of college, university, or theological school trustees riled up is your idea of fun, try this. Mount a defense of shared governance. It works every time for me.
Case in point, a letter to the editor of In Trust magazine in follow-up to a pair of pieces that my provost husband and I contributed to the Spring issue. Even without seeing him, I knew the writer (the chair of a seminary board) was wearing “the face” — the jaw-jutting, frown-lines-showing, try-to-convince me look I’ve seen so often. The tenor of his comments was all the clue I needed to detect a shared governance doubting Thomas.
The board member described himself as puzzled that In Trust persistently “defends and promotes the importance of shared governance” without acknowledging downsides or weaknesses. He asked questions, and I’m happy to oblige with answers.
NO, YES, AND MAYBE
His question: Is something fundamentally flawed with an idea when it needs so much explaining and defense?
My reply: No. The universe is full of fundamentally sound concepts that need to be repeated and explained over and over again. Democracy, for example. Or the weight loss/food intact correlation. And there’s God’s amazing plan of salvation. Folks have been talking about that one for 2,000 plus years. Yet it remains foolishness to much of the world.
His question: Are there downsides or weaknesses to shared governance?
My reply: Yes. Every system involving human interaction has challenges. Shared governance is no exception. It can be slow, complicated, contentious, messy, and frustrating. There’s just enough truth to the complaints about shared governance to keep worries alive. (See my article, “More Than Simply Getting Along.”) However, when shared governance is pursued with integrity and goodwill, the results can be quite remarkable. I’ve experienced as much through my board service.
His questions: Are there any objective data or studies that demonstrate that shared governance actually works? Are schools better governed, led, and managed? Are there better educational outcomes? More money?
My reply: Maybe. But these aren’t the questions shared governance is meant to address. Governance is, after all, several steps up the line from where the rubber hits the outcomes road. It’s nearly impossible to prove rock solid, if-then connections.
Interestingly, just as some higher ed types are asking if shared governance has what it takes to “lead and drive change in this new complex and challenging environment,” luminaries from the for-profit world are touting variations on the theme as best practice. Examples: Jim Collins, Chris Zook, Ron Heifitz, Nilofer Merchant, and the Harvard Business Review.
NO APOLOGY FORTHCOMING
So don’t expect me to change me tune any time soon, no matter how strenuously some board members object. Shared governance isn’t always pitch perfect, but to my ears, it’s the sweetest song around.