My last few posts have been an informal series. I posted about what I believe makes a good Board Chair. I wrote a second post on the relationship between the Board Chair and the CEO. I listed 8 Ways to Be a Great Board Member and I provided a framework for doing an Annual CEO Performance Review. One reader made an excellent comment on my post on performance reviews, noting that it is critical that the CEO and board be aligned on priorities in advance. I think it is a great addition. Another reader shared a story in which her… Read more
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Guidelines for Annual CEO Performance Review
I previously posted about what I believe makes a good Board Chair. Following questions from readers, I wrote a second post on the relationship between the Board Chair and the CEO. I had additional questions about doing the annual performance review for the CEO, so this column addresses CEO performance reviews. Caveats – I Am Not an HR or Legal Professional As a caveat, I am not an HR professional or an attorney. You may want to consult with these professionals to make sure all your questions and processes are legal and best practices. Another caveat: This is a framework.… Read more
8 Ways You Can Be a Great Board Member
In today’s post, I want to address what makes a good board member. But first, I want to share some reader feedback. In my last post, I talked about the relationship between the CEO and Board Chair. I received feedback from a couple readers: One reader noted that a major role for a Board Chair is to support the CEO personally and emotionally. His experience is that CEOs need someone to listen unjudgmentally and provide reassurance that they are on the right track. Another reader observed that some Board Chairs misunderstand their role and perceive themselves as the CEO’s supervisor or… Read more
Do Not Surprise Your CEO or Board Chair
In my last post, I gave new Board Chairs some advice on how to be effective in their new roles. One point I made was to develop a good relationship with the CEO. Several readers asked for more information. So, this post will address the Board Chair- CEO relationship. At the high level, trust, transparency, and respect are key to this very important relationship. As Board Chair, you especially need to be humble. The CEO is the expert. And a goal for both is ensuring there are no surprises. For All Organizations As I noted in my last post, your… Read more
Advice for New Board Chair
Not long ago, a friend invited me to coffee – she had recently been elected to be Board Chair for a nonprofit. It was her first time as a Board Chair although she had been on this board for several years and had also served on other boards. She asked me if I had any advice for a new Chair. Here is what I shared: Don’t Act Alone Remember that while you can influence many things as Board Chair, you don’t have more power than anyone else on the board. You have one vote. Every board member has one vote.… Read more