power balance in collaborative relationships

[Loretta Ishida <ishidalo@yahoo.com>]

Power is an issue that most people recognize but in actual 
situations may prove difficult to balance.

In collaborative relationships, it is important to maintain a 
balance of power.  This can mean that each party has equal say, 
and at times, some parties should be given more say.  An example 
of the latter may be in cases of environmental justice, where a 
local community's interests should be protected above any other 
group's interests.  However, most situations would probably be 
best served by an equal balance of power.

As all of you know from experience, certain individuals or groups 
often dominate a situation just by the fact that they are more 
outspoken.  On another level, certain individuals or groups may 
dominate because they have more information, greater access to 
resources, or higher social status.

I feel that in a collaborative relationship, every means should 
be taken to deliberately attempt to balance these kinds of power 
relationships, and using a facilitating party to moderate the 
process can be very effective.