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Navigating Board Expectations: A Lesson in Clarity

Categories: Board Member Roles · Good Board Practices · Prospective Board MembersTags: Leave a comment

A colleague shared this story about the importance of setting clear expectations for board members when they are recruited, checking in with them annually to ensure they understand the expectations, and being willing to let them go if they cannot meet the requirements. The Unspoken Assumption – Personal Gift As told by a nonprofit CEO somewhere in the U.S. When I became CEO of a fairly large nonprofit, I met with every single board member. It was one of the first things I did. One board member stood out. She worked for a corporate partner. She had an impressive profile,… Read more

What Happens When a Board Fails at Oversight?

Categories: Board Member Roles · Board, Board Chair, ED/CEO Roles · Good Board Practices · Hiring ED or CEO · LeadershipTags: · Leave a comment

A reader shared this story with me. Their reflections on what went wrong are great lessons for all board members. The ED went rogue out of arrogance. The Board Chair thought he personally managed the ED. The rest of the Board did not insist on transparency and oversight. Overconfident ED, Self-Important Board Chair, Acquiescent Board Means Trouble As told by a Board Member someplace in the US I have been on many nonprofit boards over the years – mostly in one specific programmatic area where I have developed expertise. The situation I am about to describe was difficult. I often… Read more

What Happens When Your CEO Shifts Focus?

Categories: Board Member Roles · Board, Board Chair, ED/CEO Roles · Good Board PracticesTags: · · Leave a comment

A former Board Chair recounted how an innovative program garnered national recognition and sparked demand for their visionary CEO to speak at conferences and consult with other organizations. Unfortunately, this meant the CEO began to neglect their own organization. The Board Chair described how the Board learned about and addressed the challenges.  Innovative Program Creates Demand for Visionary CEO’s Insights As told by a Board Chair somewhere in the US. I served on the board, and later as Board Chair, of a state-wide direct service organization that had developed a groundbreaking and effective program. The CEO, a respected innovator with… Read more

Changing Board Culture

Categories: Board Member Roles · Board, Board Chair, ED/CEO Roles · Good Board PracticesTags: · · 1 Comment

A colleague shared a story about how she transformed a lax, weak board into a more responsible and engaged one. She notes that changing culture takes agreement, transparency, patience – and some ingenuity. Lack of Oversight Could Be Negligence As told by a Board Chair somewhere in the US. I served on the board of a nonprofit that had been around for decades and that had a very strong CEO. I joined because of the reputation of the CEO and the organization and because I was very passionate about the mission. I should say that I have also served on… Read more

Unclear Roles Lead to Conflict and Chaos

Categories: Board Member Roles · Board, Board Chair, ED/CEO Roles · Conflict of Interest · Founder Transitions · Good Board Practices · Hiring ED or CEO · LeadershipTags: Leave a comment

A board member, who went through a traumatic founder transition, shared the story with me. In the organization’s early years, board members took on many staff roles and the ED and Board Chair were the same person. As the organization matured, the founders struggled to transition their roles. This led to personality conflicts, lack of accountability, and ultimately the resignation of both founders. Clarifying Roles Is Essential As told by a Board Member somewhere in the US I remember when our nonprofit — which focused on special needs kids — was just starting out. It was founded by a couple,… Read more