Good Boards Make a Difference- How to go beyond the basics to be exceptional
Many good articles cover a Board’s roles and responsibilities and why Board members need to take those responsibilities seriously.[1] However, exceptionally effective Boards go beyond the basic expectations. Those Boards support and strengthen the CEO by collaborating to help improve Board-related processes.
One particularly excellent CEO explained she believed in setting such high standards because her Board did and that her first Board Chair had trained her well. There can be many ways that a Board provides exceptional support. This article considers three – meetings, communication, and leadership provided by deep thinking – that are basic but often overlooked if Board members just accept the status quo.
Meetings
It can happen that nonprofit Boards meet regularly, but the impact of their meetings is negligible. Consider how much time your Board spends in meetings (including committee meetings) and how those meetings benefit the organization? As you plan Board meetings, you should:
- Determine how often the meeting should occur; this may change through the lifecycle of the organization.
- Identify the purpose of the meeting. What is important to accomplish? What are the outcomes of the meeting, and are decisions clear enough to be actionable?
- Ensure accountability. The responsibility for action may fall to a Board member or a management/staff member. In either case, ensure there is accountability for the effort.
Communications
It’s easy to join a Board and accept the existing communication system. Unless the system is excellent, it is worth working with the CEO to improve the communication plan. For this endeavor, consider the following:
- The Board Pre-Read Package – The pre-read package should be sent out on a set schedule, perhaps a week before each Board meeting. It should include information that will help Board members be more productive during the session. Financial information should be presented to allow all Board members to understand the organization’s position.
- Regular Board Updates – Consider Board updates between meetings, especially if there is a gap of several months. In addition to any interim operational information, it is always helpful to provide compelling impact stories that Board members can use in their roles as ambassadors.
- A Secure Board Portal – A central repository for all Board-related information typically makes it easier for Board members and the organization’s leadership. Board members don’t have to remember where they filed the email, and the organization’s leadership can add information without generating multiple emails.
Deep Thinking
Transformational Boards partner with the CEO. They invest their time and energy to learn about the sector and think deeply about the organization’s current position and future potential. Board members who are deep thinkers ask tough, relevant questions. They are not afraid to challenge the norms, and do so in ways that support the CEO and make him/her stronger.
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The strongest Boards are role models and partners to the CEO that exhibit passion and a commitment to going above and beyond to strengthen the organization.
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Katherine Whitney works closely with nonprofit organizations in Board governance, strategic planning, and organizational development, including CEO searches. She is a co-founder and director of Warren Whitney. She has more than 30 years of experience helping organizations reach their potential. Katherine has a passion for helping to strengthen nonprofit organizations by building good business practices to support their missions. To learn more about how Katherine can support your organization, email Stephanie Ford at sford@warrenwhitney.com.
MAKING POTENTIAL HAPPEN
[1] Basic responsibilities of Boards include establishing the mission and strategic direction, ensuring adequate human and financial resources, providing oversight of the financial position and program effectiveness, and ensuring good governance.
Data Directions Inc.