Quick Stops Along the Way is a monthly collection of issues, challenges, and thoughts I think you’ll find helpful on the road ahead. Send your questions to me or post in the comments below. I will answer your questions in future Quick Stop posts.
After we exchanged small talk and travel updates, the new president of a small nonprofit I’ve followed for years finally asked the pressing question.
“We find ourselves in an awkward position,” she said. “We have fifteen board members; most have been on the board for ten or more years. We need to bring on new members to expand our connections and skills, but what do we do with these great folks who’ve worked for us for so long?”
I immediately asked what the bylaws say. Do you have terms of office, and does it include a set number of terms? Do you have attendance requirements?
“Oh, of course,” she said, smiling, “but we haven’t followed any of that for years.”
A Quick Review of Board Roles
- Guardians of the organization’s mission
- Strategic Direction-Setting that’s mission focused with an eye to the future
- Financial Stewardship
- Leadership and Accountability for hiring, evaluating and supporting the executive director
- Advocates for the cause; Ambassadors to the community
You can find a similar list in books, articles, newsletters or on Google. These lists seldom remind us that our responsibility to the organization is first through the bylaws. They are the laws for your organization. If they are not functional, update them. If they are hard to read, simplify them. Make the bylaws readable and usable.
Steps Toward a Solution
Check the bylaws.
- Refresh yourself on term length and number of terms.
- Check attendance requirements.
- Review past minutes to identify current board members’ years of service.
Create a list of those who have served past the allowed time and terms. Ask these questions:
- Are they regularly attending board meetings, fundraising events, or volunteering in some other way?
- Were they recruited to the board for a specific skill set, and are they actively using it for the organization?
- Do they regularly donate to the organization financially or volunteer their time for education and fundraising events? Gifting and volunteering time to the best of their ability is a measure of commitment.
The next step is important:
The president and the executive director should visit privately with each board member to discover their current level of commitment to the organization. You may discover that some members don’t know how to step away from board service after their life takes different turns, responsibilities change, or interest in the cause shifts.
This step is very important:
Recognize the board member’s time and effort for the organization over the years. Let them know it’s okay to step away if that’s best for them. If they are deeply committed, ask them to step away for one year and reconsider them for service in the future. Invite them to serve on a committee, be a part of major planning, and continue to be an ambassador for you at education events. Keep them involved.
And this is the very, very important step:
Start by following the bylaws. Your organization began with the bylaws so continue to keep them at the core of your work. Let all board members know that you will be enforcing attendance requirements for the good of the organization. If you don’t have a nominating committee, now is the time to create one with the direction to be serious about terms of service.
These steps have no right or wrong order. Timing is always important; a discussion of this magnitude starts with your president to create the best plan to move forward. Then, take each one in the way that makes the most sense for your organization.
Remember that Quick Review of Board Roles? You are unlikely to fulfill those roles well until you get the basics of board membership and responsibilities down.
My Answer to the President’s Dilemma
Smiling in return, I replied succinctly to the President’s acknowledgment that the board had not been following all the organization’s rules of the road: “Your bylaws have a purpose—use them to make your organization better.”
Create your best board of directors now to see your greatest results tomorrow.
Learning at the Leading Edge
A Quote for Reflection
Leaders should celebrate change and evolution. Yes, change is hard, particularly if you think your organization is managing its current mission and working fairly well. But our world is constantly adapting, as are stakeholders and their needs. We need to constantly adjust and grow to maximize the benefits of our work. Change allows us to innovate and adjust, and no matter how scary it is, it is needed.
Patrick Riccards
Driving Force Institute
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