learning life as a board member
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Can Someone Remind Can Someone Remind Me Why I Me Why I
Volunteered Volunteered for THIS?for THIS?
Learning Life as a Learning Life as a New Board MemberNew Board Member
oror
Copyright 2009Jo Linder-Crow, PhD
Look at Overall Look at Overall Governing StyleGoverning Style
Boards should approach their task Boards should approach their task with a style that emphasizes:with a style that emphasizes: Using the best knowledge available in Using the best knowledge available in
your membershipyour membership Outward visionOutward vision Encouragement of diversity in Encouragement of diversity in
viewpointsviewpoints Strategic leadership and planningStrategic leadership and planning Clear distinctions between Board and Clear distinctions between Board and
staff rolesstaff roles Collective decision-making and a Collective decision-making and a
proactive approachproactive approach
Staying Focused is KeyStaying Focused is Key
Regular meetingsRegular meetings Clear bylaws and policiesClear bylaws and policies Reports from committees and Reports from committees and
other groupsother groups Good communication with staff Good communication with staff
(if you’re lucky enough to have (if you’re lucky enough to have one/some)one/some)
So Now You’re the So Now You’re the President, President,
or the Chairor the Chair Dynamics changeDynamics change Responsibilities changeResponsibilities change Expectations change (yours and Expectations change (yours and
theirs)theirs)
And you experience “life on the And you experience “life on the other side other side
of the table.”of the table.”
What are the Legal What are the Legal Responsibilities of Individual Responsibilities of Individual
Board Members?Board Members? Duty of Care --A board member owes Duty of Care --A board member owes
the duty to exercise reasonable care the duty to exercise reasonable care when he or she makes a decision as when he or she makes a decision as a steward of the organization. a steward of the organization.
Duty of Loyalty--act in the best Duty of Loyalty--act in the best interests of the organization. interests of the organization.
Duty of Obedience--be faithful to the Duty of Obedience--be faithful to the organization's mission.organization's mission.
These things describe These things describe responsibleresponsible boards… boards…
What describes What describes exceptionalexceptional boards?boards?
Effective Board Teams…Effective Board Teams…
Trust each otherTrust each other Are flexibleAre flexible Demonstrate inclusivenessDemonstrate inclusiveness Institutionalize a culture of inquiry, Institutionalize a culture of inquiry,
mutual respect, and constructive mutual respect, and constructive debatedebate
Focus on what’s best for the Focus on what’s best for the organization as a wholeorganization as a whole
Maintain a sense of humorMaintain a sense of humor Trust each other (yes, I repeat…)Trust each other (yes, I repeat…)
An Exceptional An Exceptional Board Must…Board Must…
Balance its role as an oversight body with its role as
a force supporting the organization.
This requires…This requires…
thoughtfulness and intentionality knowledge and communication action and engagement
Board members who are active and engaged add lasting value to your
organization!
That is leadership that brings success!
I Want That!I Want That!
p.s. How do I get that?p.s. How do I get that?
Essential Thoughts for Essential Thoughts for Board LeadershipBoard Leadership
Appreciate the wealth of expertise on the Appreciate the wealth of expertise on the Board, and use itBoard, and use it
Learn to appreciate tradition, but don’t be Learn to appreciate tradition, but don’t be stifled by it stifled by it
Be willing to hear bad news, share it with Be willing to hear bad news, share it with your board, work on resolutions, and move your board, work on resolutions, and move onon
Remember that old news is new news to Remember that old news is new news to new Board and Committee members.new Board and Committee members.
Guide your board so that they consider the Guide your board so that they consider the big picture— think and talk about big picture— think and talk about mission, mission, guiding policies, and proceduresguiding policies, and procedures
I Know…But…I Know…But…
There’s this person who always…
So let’s talk about…
Board members who…Board members who… Dominate the conversationDominate the conversation Have little self-control and who cause Have little self-control and who cause
trouble at board meetings because they trouble at board meetings because they are unfocused, unpredictable, moody, are unfocused, unpredictable, moody, and narcissistic behaviorsand narcissistic behaviors
Throw a proverbial wet blanket on every Throw a proverbial wet blanket on every idea but does little to advance the idea but does little to advance the discussiondiscussion
Show up, but aren’t really “there”—and Show up, but aren’t really “there”—and don’t follow through on anythingdon’t follow through on anything
Really want to help "get the right Really want to help "get the right things done," but have no idea how to things done," but have no idea how to go about governing an organization.go about governing an organization.
Dangers…Dangers…
Challenges cohesiveness of the Challenges cohesiveness of the boardboard
Reduces effectiveness of the Reduces effectiveness of the boardboard
Interferes with positive Interferes with positive board/staff relationshipsboard/staff relationships
If not controlled, can lead to If not controlled, can lead to board dysfunctionboard dysfunction
How Structure Can HelpHow Structure Can Help
Dysfunction in the board can Dysfunction in the board can encourage “problem” behaviorencourage “problem” behavior
Need clarity in roles, goals, and Need clarity in roles, goals, and expectationsexpectations Role of the board, members, the Exec, Role of the board, members, the Exec,
the staff, and the volunteersthe staff, and the volunteers Expectations of the people in these Expectations of the people in these
rolesroles Goals and objectives of eachGoals and objectives of each Lines of communication between and Lines of communication between and
among all of theseamong all of these
We’ll talk about some possible reasons for these behaviors, and some strategies to use, in our discussion groups…see you in a few minutes!
Do These Strategies Do These Strategies Work?Work?
Yes they can—but it takes the Yes they can—but it takes the willingness to confront the willingness to confront the behaviorsbehaviors
Board training is critical and it Board training is critical and it needs to be ongoingneeds to be ongoing
Takes an effective Board team—Takes an effective Board team—the Chair needs supportthe Chair needs support
Full circle—back to the elements Full circle—back to the elements of an effective Board teamof an effective Board team
Effective Board Teams…Effective Board Teams… Trust each otherTrust each other Are flexibleAre flexible Demonstrate inclusivenessDemonstrate inclusiveness Institutionalize a culture of inquiry, Institutionalize a culture of inquiry,
mutual respect, and constructive mutual respect, and constructive debatedebate
Focus on what’s best for the Focus on what’s best for the organization as a wholeorganization as a whole
Maintain a sense of humorMaintain a sense of humor Trust each other (yes, this again!)Trust each other (yes, this again!)
Want to Talk?Want to Talk?I’m here to help if I can!I’m here to help if I can!
Jo Linder-Crow, PhDJo Linder-Crow, PhDExecutive Director, California Executive Director, California
Psychological AssociationPsychological [email protected]@cpapsych.org