26 Practices of High Performing Boards
So many nonprofit boards are stuck in one way or another. Whether the nonprofit is large or small, I see so many of the same challenges with board governance.
I’m thinking a lot about boards this week, as I prepare for a big workshop on boards.
Here’s my list of 26 practices every board should follow:
1. Recruiting New Members.
They are thoughtful about their new members – and select them carefully. They don’t add people just because slots are open. They vet their new members carefully.
2. Orientation.
They orient their new members carefully – to help them get up to speed on strategic issues and also to help them feel a member of the group.
3. Clear Expectations.
They lay out clear expectations for board members. My friend Sandy Rees (who’s sitting here with me over coffee this am) says “If they don’t have clear expectations, they are setting themselves up for problems either now or later.”
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4. Enforced Expectations.
They discuss expectations often as a group. That way they stay alive, and get recognized and accepted.
5. Annual Planning Retreat.
And they have an annual retreat to discuss strategic issues and to forge closer working relationships among board members. The planning retreat helps them establish and know what their goals are.
6. Social Time.
They make social time among board members a priority. Because they know this helps create closer personal relationships among board members, which in turn, engenders trust and a sense of team.
7. Meetings.
They make sure board meetings are interesting. That board meetings focus on important issues. That meetings don’t waste members’ time.
“Every board member needs to leave feeling jazzed and excited about the organization,” says Sandy on her second cup of coffee.
My fundraising buddy Amanda Preston (who’s helping teach the CFRE Review Course with me here in Chicago) says board meetings need to help connect them to the mission of the organization, as opposed to spending all their time on business issues.
8. Term Limits.
They enforce term limits, no discussion, no question. Rotating new board members keeps the board fresh, and open to new ideas. Everybody knows and accepts this.
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No term limits means that the board evolves into more of a social club – and this is clearly not in the organization’s best interest!
9. Consent Agendas.
They use consent agendas to save meeting time so they can focus on what’s really important – following up on their strategic decisions.
10. Fun.
They have fun together, which establishes camaraderie. They take time for fun and for getting to know each other. You want your board members to enjoy their time on the board.
11. Group Process.
They pay attention to the intangible issue of group process – how the board members work together as a group. They do not engage in negativity, handwringing or naysaying.
They make sure that one group (usually the long time board members) does not dominate. So nobody ever says “that’s the way we’ve always done it.”
12. CEO.
They have a strong CEO who the board members like and trust. They stand by their CEO. They are in a partnership relationship with the CEO.
13. Focus.
They are willing to stay focused on what’s best for the organization -NOT their personal agendas or preferences.
14. Conflict.
They welcome strong discussion at board meetings, but they keep it cordial. Warm personal relationships developed through social time help create a comfortable environment for rich discussions.
They are willing to challenge each other, and willing to ask questions.
15. Respect.
They never embarrass a fellow board member in front of the other board members.
16. Adhere to Structure.
They never go around the CEO to individual staff unless they are working on a specific project directly with staff.
17. Giving.
They all make a proud personal gift individually each year, putting their money where their mouth is. They encourage all other board members to give.
18.Messaging.
They know why their organization needs and deserves financial support. They are clear on what the message is.
19. Self Evaluation Process.
They have a board self-evaluation each year and they discuss it frankly.
20. Monitoring Progress.
High performing boards have a way to measure how well they are doing. They measure themselves against goals, both as individuals and as a group.
21. Bias Towards Action.
They are action-oriented. Board members understand that their job is not just to come to meetings and pontificate.
22. Individual Action.
Each board member knows what his or her job is.
23. Decision Making.
They establish who is supposed to make what decision, and they are clear about it. They have clear ground rules on how decisions are made.
24. Communication.
They are clear on how communication is supposed to flow.
25. Committees.
Committees all have a specific reason for being, specific deliverables and action items. There are not endless committee assignments.
26. Team Spirit.
Your board works together as a team. There is a team spirit energy that pervades everything they do.
Creating a high performing board is just like creating a team. Everybody has to be clear on their purpose and what their job is.
This is my list of best practices – feel free to share this with your board – just let me know if you do, please.
There are lots more practices for high performing boards. What did I miss? What would you add? Leave a comment and let me know!
Great list! I am definitely forwarding on to our Board President.
One question though… what are consent agendas?
I think you might have missed “confidentiality”. What is said in a Board meeting stays there. Things said out of contect may not be what is meant.
Gail,
Your email came at a perfect time as we are struggling with poor attendance in board meetings. I will share this information with my Executive Council and ultimately with the entire board.
Thank you for your very useful messages.
Great article! I am forwarding this to my board members. Thanks for all of your insight!
Great list. If you are going all this – you’re doing great.
You continue to be AWESOME! I love this list and I will be sharing with my board and NP friends!!!!
Love the list and plan to share it with my Board right away. We are in need of a little energy lift, and working toward many of the recommendations you shared.
Thank you for the list. Only wish I could be there for the conference!
This is list is right on target…I appreciate the succinct presentation. With your permission, I’d like to share it with my board.
Hi Les, happy for you to share and I’m glad you found it useful.
Gail, this is fabulous info just before 2 big board retreats at our house! Thanks for always giving us excellent advice. Hope all your talks go well. Call me sometime about a VISIONS question-919-698-9137. Don’t you want to go to South Africa with Val & some of us in June? Best, Louise
Great list; I will be comparing it to my actions as a Board Member.
Thanks!
Thanks for this list…..have a great time in Chicago. Ellen
Thank you for the much needed tips. I will be sharing them with my board and my executive director friends in other nonprofits.
Thanks Ellen and Alyson – let me know if you are able to make any changes using this list as a discussion point!
Alyson – Thanks, for asking about the consent agendas, as I was going to myself! Google defines them as: 1) Consisting of those items which are routine and for which a staff recommendation has been prepared. A member of the public or a Council Member may request that an item be placed on the regular agenda for further discussion.
2) A list of items that are voted on in a block instead of being voted on individually. This includes minutes of work sessions and Council meetings, and any item believed by the Clerk of Council or the City Manager to be routine and not controversial in nature.
3) Non-controversial items prepared by the Mayor and presented to the City Council for approval. The consent agenda is not a separate meeting, rather the items are presented as one item, usually on the Policy agenda.
I would say from Gail’s statement about saving meeting time, they are probably a combination of all three, as in non-controversial, routine items that are presented as a block to be voted on. Does that sound right, Gail?
Thanks, for the great article! I will be sharing this with both local boards of which I am a member.
Thanks for these great tips!
I sent this list to my Ex. Dir. and my Board Chair. We are always trying to keep our board meetings fresh & efficient. This list will keep us on track. BTW…I attended the CFRE Review Course and it was Fantastic! Thanks Gail for your energetic teaching style.
This is really good yet very simple to comprehend. It s simple things that appear common sense that make big differences. I like it
Awesome info I plan to share with my advisory council at my children’s school- thanks for sharing!
It is a list of routine items that the board must act on but does not at that meeting require discussion or debate. Examples include minutes of previous meetings, ratification of the record of a telephone vote, and policies already discussed and now prepared for adoption.
So glad you find this helpful! Let me know how it goes!
Thank you for this great list! I will be sharing with some of my nonprofits boards, I hope you don’t mind.