You know the ones. The ones that over promise and under deliver. The ones that go radio silent. The ones who won’t leave you alone. The ones with all the questions. The ones who disrupt meetings. The ones who think they know it all. The ones who are just the wrong fit and need to be exited.

Are you with me? Yeah. I have experienced all of these and more.

Take These 4 steps to Change Those Dynamics and Elevate Board Performance

1. Check your mindset. How are you thinking about your board’s role in the first place? Do you see them as a necessary evil required by your state’s corporate code? Are they a distraction? Or are they valuable partners essential to maximizing your mission. Think about the most successful nonprofits you know. They likely have high performing boards and invest in developing them on a regular basis. Look, volunteers don’t get up in the morning and set out to ruin your day. So stop and reflect a minute.

2. Create feedback loops. All good relationships make open communication a priority. Are you providing board members with various opportunities to ask questions and share perspectives? You can do this in several ways – board surveys; individuals chats over coffee, lunch, cocktails; discussions at committee or board meetings; focus groups.   Your volunteers feel valued when asked for their opinion and advice.  Plus, you will be more effective when you make better decisions based on actual information, rather than assumptions.

3. Invest in them. From the time you identify board nominees you can begin to educate them on how your nonprofit operates and why you exist. Once they’re on the board, be intentional about development opportunities and leverage the talent at the table to support the needs of your organization. Do you invite them to attend conferences? Do you conduct meaningful retreats or world café style sessions? Can they access resources from Board Source? Do you have a board portal where they can access information? Do they interact with board members from other organizations? And remember to address the social side of things! A key factor in volunteer retention is the relationships they make while serving. Don’t underestimate the power of these interactions.

4. Honor and respect. No matter what the situation, you have many opportunities to demonstrate your gratitude. Even when you are pleased that a board member has decided to move on, you honor their service. When you disagree with a certain perspective, try to remember that diversity reflects strength – your nonprofit board will perform at a higher level when different perspectives are welcome. If you want a group of volunteers who will bow to your every whim, you don’t understand this business.  Be clear up front about what the organization needs and values because when nonprofit board members understand that, they will step up.

Here’s the thing….this shared leadership model we have in nonprofits gets messy sometimes. Managing groups of people in a way that captures their collective wisdom, and keeps you moving toward common goals, takes skill.

But you got this! Start with these 4 steps and you will see a change in board engagement and ultimately the impact you make in the community.

Let us know below what your next step will be.

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