Susan C. Hammond
You’re one of the lucky executive directors…your board is active. How do you do it many ask you?
Here are ten tips for increasing the engagement of your board:
- Transparency on expectations i.e. tasks assigned, financial contribution, and time commitment.
- Conduct an annual evaluation of the director and board.
- Review and sign the board member agreement or statement of roles & responsibilities.
- Assign tasks appropriate to interests and time, i.e. intellectually stimulating, result in learning something new, and allow individual or group participation.
- Periodically recognize and thank board members for their efforts.
- Annual conflict of interest statement is reviewed and signed preventing any embarrassing situations.
- Understand why the director agreed to serve and the goals they hope to achieve through their service, personal and organizational.
- Assign a board buddy to new board members. An individual to help them understand the culture of the board over the first few meetings and what committees or projects to work on.
- Conduct an orientation for new board members. Use this as a time to explain board policies and procedures as documented in the board book to be distributed.
- Adopt a Consent Agenda. Meetings run with a consent agenda have more time to address strategic issues and educate board members on organizational or constituent matters. Time isn’t wasted discussing reports directors understand. It makes for a more interesting and lively meeting.
How do you engage your board members? I’m compiling a best practices list.
Join us for our next Networking for Non-Profit Event at Derby Street Shoppes December 14th!
