Why should our director not act as our Confidentiality Officer? In a word: power dynamics. Power dynamics are simply the way power is distributed within a relationship. This can be related to financial or material means, or it can be related to spiritual or relational authority. It’s important to be aware of how both we and our partners perceive the power dynamics within our relationship and to consider how that might impact communication, trust, transparency, and mutuality. Especially for some cultures, the power dynamics inherent in our organizational structure can prevent people from feeling comfortable or empowered to report breaches of confidentiality to those in authority over them. They may fear losing services, "losing face," or experiencing retribution. Power isn’t inherently good or bad, but it can be used for either good or bad purposes - even unintentionally! Staying aware of the power dynamics at play in our partnerships can help us design policies that encourage transparency and trust.
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