Peter Zehren | Nonprofit Management and Leadership
When I think of the time I’ve spent serving on boards, most of it was frankly, boring. Organizations tend to bog the board down with mundane details, strategic plans and process protocol. What if we inspired them instead?
If our board is comprised of community leaders, movers and shakers we should listen more and encourage them to lead. We should feed them passion for mission, quality experiences and opportunity to share thoughtful leadership.
Passion for Mission
Why does a board member serve? What do they love about the work you do? We should listen to them more. Then, offer them opportunities to tell their story as organization ambassadors.
Instead of asking our board to follow a check-off agenda and provide a list of contacts, let them focus on how our nonprofit changes the world. Start meetings with a testimonial or story about real people, clients who have benefited from our services. Talk big picture.
Make sure the board sees your organization’s work in action. How many people serve on a board and never see the front lines? Hold an open house or tour of your organization and board members will see your mission in action.
Quality Experience
Most of us do not ask our “thought leaders” the tough questions. We may have the best minds in our city in the room, but we don’t ask them how they envision the organization’s future. Let these leaders do more thinking and you may be surprised.
Gail Perry in her book Fired-Up Fundraising suggests we ask board members what they’ll do this week or this month to help our organization succeed. Let them actually do something they’ve come up with. Something they can own.
Most board members don’t know where the line is between staff and board responsibilities. Staff should do the fundraising, boards the connecting—for example. The truth is responsibilities are shared. Find the best balance for your organization and give your board an actionable task.
Thoughtful Leadership
Does this sound like your board? It’s ten minutes past the hour and most board members have not yet arrived; some won’t show up at all. The agenda is in place and followed to the letter. Reports from each area inform the board. But do they?
The typical meeting structure does not allow many boards time for thoughtful leadership. The stuff at the end where new ideas, vision and a chance to show how the organization is fairing in its mission are listed.
Start backwards. If the board doesn’t get to reports, it won’t change content. Reports can be read later, or better yet approved in a 30-second consent agenda vote. Start with the exciting, big picture stuff—what’s happening in the sector, new technologies and inspiring potential collaborations.
One Final Thought
We often strive for consensus, for unanimous decisions. True consensus allows for disagreement, discussion and standing aside to allow a decision to be reached whether a member agrees or not.
Disagreement is good. Even Bloomberg Businessweek agrees corporate boards need disagreement to thrive. Safe, unanimous decisions frequently avoid risk, creativity and new direction. Move the organization forward; let your thought leaders work through the hard questions. It’s a more productive way of caring for and feeding for your board.
How do you care and feed your board?
_______________________________________________
* The title for this blog came from Gail Perry’s book Fired-Up Fundraising, Turn Board Passion into Action.
