Today, the stakeholders (parents) of my daughter’s school would be voting to approve the list of new board members to replace steps rolling off at the end of the varsity year. I am on the new customer list, so I thought I would take this occasion to cope with board service and why it is for that reason dreaded.
If you have been around the nonprofit world long, you undoubtedly have heard the horror posts. You may have a few of your current. The examples include everything from complete and additionally utter apathy to dictatorial death grip… and additionally lots in-between. Over the course of bygone times 15 years, I have been on 6 boards of directors and provide advised countless others. Tonight’s vote should earn the tally 7. Some of these boards had been healthy, productive boards and some have really been dysfunctional beyond belief. One of the boards I serve on started by having a nightmare board, but has evolved into one the best quality I’ve ever seen (so there is expect you! )#).
Here are some typical problems:
* The board is unengaged. Apathy reigns substantial. Nobody cares. The board members give lip service to cause, but dump everything on the shoulders for the hired Executive Director. Few new board members who come into one of this situation are comfortable rocking the boat despite that they realize it’s unhealthy. Most will quietly serve out their term and switch. And that’s assuming the Executive Director doesn’t quit and the organization fold because of that.
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