Friends and Colleagues, this stuff I’ve been writing about really works!
Last week at a Board meeting, we saw the impact of the implementation of good board practices when a long time board member said, “We’ve come a long way, baby!” at the end of the meeting. Just a year ago this was a struggling Board of six, and now it’s an energized Board of 15.
Keys to Energizing Your Board
What was the problem? Too many of these Board meetings had been spent reviewing the work of the committees, rather than mapping the direction of the agency. Now, Board members are no longer bored by listening to reports of what has already happened. Their efforts have been re-focused on success in the future. We now have highly interactive meetings where we discuss how to move towards a bright new horizon.
Here are some of the principals they have been following:
1. Mission Statement: Recognize that the reason Board members provide their valuable time and talent is because they have a passion for the Mission of the agency. Start each Board meeting by reading the Mission of the Agency. This will keep the meeting from straying into irrelevant and insignificant matters.
2. Short Agenda/More Discussion: Focus on no more than 5-6 items at a meeting. Leave more time for discussion of each item.
3. Intellectual Capital: Provide opportunities for Board members to use their ‘intellectual capital’ by always having many items on the agenda that requires discussion and decisions. Use smaller breakout groups to encourage more interaction.
4. Strategic issues: Use the Board meeting to make sure that strategic initiatives are being addressed. If there are open issues from the strategic Planning report that have not been resolved, this is the time to do so. The Strategic Plan guides your agenda, not committee reports.
5. Consent Agenda: Eliminate Committee reports and announcements by using a Consent Agenda that is sent out well in advance of the meeting.
6. Education: Always provide opportunities for the members to learn more about the agency, its programs and challenges. Have clients/staff come to meetings to tell their stories
7. Leadership: In order to build future leadership and more competent board members, include one item which provides them leadership insights and skills so they will be prepared to take the reigns of the agency in the future.
8. Reports: Have standardized reporting; keep reports simple and easy to understand.
9. Annual calendar: Create an Annual Board Calendar that schedules recurring items at the appropriate times, i.e. budget presentation, Executive review, By-laws review, Audit report, Board elections, etc.
10. Enjoy: Celebrate success at every meeting. Thank everyone for everything all the time.
Make these few simple changes and watch the excitement grow.
Click here to add your comments on my Segall Nonprofit Consulting Facebook Page
Tags: Board meeting, nonprofit, tips