I hear the complaints wherever I go, from board Chairs and executive directors.
What’s wrong with our board members. I can’t get them to come to meetings. I can’t get them to follow-up on commitments they make. I can’t get them to fund raise.
These complaints are so prevalent, that there must be something wrong with the system of volunteer boards.
Then at a recent seminar the light went on. I heard a speaker remind us that we don’t have volunteers and board members, we have volunteer board members.
Volunteers. Everyone is doing this work as a volunteer.
If so, what do they get from being on our board. They often come to ‘boring’ meetings rather than spending time at home or doing things they enjoy. They are being asked to do things when they can barely keep up with the demands of work and family. And worst of all, they are being asked to do something they absolutely hate to do-ask people for money.
So I have some suggestions for you to consider.
- Make Board meetings fun and rewarding. Studies have shown that most people come onto a board because they support the Mission of the agency, and then spend little of their time dealing with issues that affect that Mission. They spend too much time listening to reports and discussing trivia.
- Give them the training they need to effectively do their job. They bring work and life skills to the table and often don’t know how to apply these to their work in board governance and leadership. We must always be focusing on how we can help our board members understand what we need done and how we want them to do it.
- Get the board’s work done through committees and task forces with clear mandates and timetables. Give the board members specific directions as to what you want done, what problem we need solved, and by when.
- Don’t call unnecessary meetings. Use teleconferencing and e-mails to get work done when possible. Always ask, ‘what the most efficient way to get this task done without calling a meeting.’
- When you do meet, provide plenty of opportunity for interaction, the sharing of ideas, the use of the ‘intellectual capital’ that everyone brings to the table. If people are shy or quiet, ask them for their ideas. Involve people.
- Celebrate success whenever possible. Thank people and recognize those who have done outstanding jobs. This is the pay they get for being volunteers.
- Most importantly, always be mission-focused. Help everyone understand how what they are doing is moving the agency to fulfill the mission and vision of the agency.
Remember, Board members are volunteering their time and expect to get something in return-the psychic reward to know that what they are doing is really helping people and the community.
Tags: Committees, Mission, Nonprofit Boards, Volunteers