I was chatting with a colleague who dedicated herself passionately to organizations as a board member. For many, she had served nine years – three, three-year terms. She volunteered in countless ways for these organizations, introduced them to donors, brought on additional board members, helped with strategy, and much more. After investing so much time and creativity, she knew it would be a letdown to leave the board. But she also understood that it is good to bring in new ideas and fresh perspectives. So, when her terms were up, she graciously stepped down, continuing to be a donor. To… Read more
Category: Good Board Practices
Keeping Your Board Engaged Post Pandemic
During the pandemic, many boards naturally and organically became more involved as members helped navigate the crisis. At one level, boards simply monitored finances more carefully. At the other extreme, board members took on operating roles when staff were ill or caring for family. And the pandemic impacted different organizations differently. For some, demand for services increased; for others (think arts organizations) usage plummeted or stopped altogether. In all situations, board members appropriately leaned in to help the organizations they loved survive. For several years, board members got used to being pretty hands-on. But what happens now as we… Read more
Take Care of the Great ED You Want to Keep
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
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