Governing bodies—whether boards, councils, committees, or task forces—are meant to function as teams. Their role is simple yet powerful: to bring together diverse voices, engage in thoughtful discussion, and make decisions together. This is the heart of democracy: people with different ideas working toward a common goal.
But too often, this ideal is lost.
Instead of collaboration, many groups are dominated by a single voice. The chair, president, or leader—whose role is to guide discussions—ends up making decisions alone, expecting everyone else to follow. Meanwhile, other members act as if they represent the entire group, making decisions without consultation or approval.
Let’s be clear: a governing body is not a monarchy. These roles are not thrones. True authority comes from trust, transparency, and shared responsibility—not from personal power. Democracy means every voice counts, and decisions should be made together. When one person takes control, or others act without consensus, the purpose of governance is lost.
This isn’t just about individual behavior—it’s a structural problem. Too many groups operate with unclear rules, little training, and no accountability. New members are handed titles but not proper orientation. Long-standing habits—like letting the chair speak for everyone—go unchecked. And in the rush for speed or convenience, meaningful discussions are bypassed.
It gets worse. Email threads and group chats, meant to be spaces for communication, often become channels where decisions are unilaterally announced without input or approval. These informal channels may seem efficient, but they exclude members from key conversations and undermine the decision-making process. It’s no surprise that people start to leave. When members feel ignored or sidelined, they lose trust and step away. As they leave, the group loses strength and credibility.
This isn’t just bad process—it’s a trust issue. When people stop listening, when decisions are made behind closed doors, trust erodes. And once trust is gone, so is the group’s ability to lead.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
We can rebuild governance that works. We can restore democracy—where leadership is shared, accountability is built in, and everyone’s voice is valued. It starts with clear rules, open debate, and ensuring no one speaks for the group unless the group has spoken first. Above all, we must remember that titles don’t grant unchecked authority—they come with responsibility.
Whether you’re on a council, board, or committee, your role is the same: to lead together. If we let ego, bad habits, or silence take over, we fail each other—and the people we serve.
Group governance is not a monarchy. It is democracy—and it only works when we treat it that way.
