Do You Have a Clear Process for Vetting Prospective Board Members?

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

A reader and I were exchanging emails when they told me that their governance committee had developed a thoughtful process for selecting and vetting new Board Members. I like the policy for a number of reasons. First, it is important to fully vet a candidate ahead of time. I was on one board where we approved a new candidate and announced that they were joining the board. Only then did we learn that this candidate had done something that precluded them from being on our board, and we had to rescind our offer. Second, the policy makes sure that what… Read more

Would Co-Leadership Work for Your Organization?

Categories: Board Member Roles · Board, Board Chair, ED/CEO Roles · Good Board Practices · Hiring ED or CEO · Succession PlanningTags: · 1 Comment

Many nonprofit organizations are re-thinking leadership, and some are trying a co-Leadership or Distributed Leadership model where they have multiple CEOs or Executive Directors. I have been interested in seeing why organizations decide to try this model and the benefits and challenges they face. I interviewed the Board Chair and the current sole Executive Director of a small nonprofit on the east coast that tried a co-leadership model on an interim basis for a year. They had three co-EDs. In the end, they decided to have just a single ED. I wanted to understand what motivated them to try co-EDs… Read more

Connect with Every Board Member Annually

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

In my last post, a CEO shared a story about setting expectations for prospective board members and then reminding them yearly. She noted that when she started her position as CEO, she met with every person on her board. I applaud that she did this. I recommend that every new CEO take the time to meet with every board member and then stay connected in subsequent years. I also recommend that the Board Chair meets with board members yearly if possible. If the board is large, then the Board Chair, the Chair Elect (Vice Chair), and the CEO might split… Read more

Navigating Board Expectations: A Lesson in Clarity

Categories: Board Member Roles · Good Board Practices · Prospective Board MembersTags: 3 Comments

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