3 Behaviors of Highly Effective Boards
“I don’t know what to do,” a nonprofit Executive Director told me recently “I can’t get my board to provide the support that I need.” Can you relate with that sentiment? Boards of nonprofits are essential for sustainability and oversight, however, Boards are simply teams of people and like any team, they need the appropriate tools for success.
Effective Board leadership is an art form that makes a significant impact and luckily it is an art form that any organization can learn. Below are three behaviors exhibited by highly effective boards.
Highly effective Boards are intentional about RECRUITMENT.
Avoid the temptation to fill your board up with warm bodies. Boards suffer if they are filled with individuals that aren’t committed to the role or don’t have the necessary skills. Highly effective Boards pay close attention to the skills needed to advance the organization’s mission, the make-up, and the identities of individuals that are represented. Creating a Board recruitment plan and Board member evaluative process sets your Board up for success.
Highly effective Boards are clear about ROLES & EXPECTATIONS.
Have you ever volunteered for an event but when you showed up it was unclear what you needed to do? As with any volunteer position, Board members need to know what is expected of them to thrive. Highly effective Boards set new members up for success by providing them with detailed descriptions of their role and expectations. Board members excel when they understand their responsibility to financial and compliance oversight as well as their need to support the organization’s fundraising efforts.
Highly effective Boards are committed to CONTINUING EDUCATION.
Laws and best practices for nonprofit organizations are constantly changing. Therefore, Board complacency leads to organizational stagnation. Highly effective Boards commit themselves to a continual process of learning. This practice is achieved by intentionally making space in Board agendas for continuing education. There are a number of great resources for Boards to work through as a group. Check out our Resources page at to download a free copy of a workbook for effective governance created by the Independent Sector.
With a few adjustments to your organization’s typically processes your Board can increase its efficacy. Highly effective Boards allow organizations to achieve their greatest impact. Do you need help with Board Development? For more tips and tricks like this set-up an initial consultation today.
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