As a long-time daily walker in East Texas, I’ve covered a lot of ground with a variety of four-legged companions. Sophie accompanies me these days, preceded by Molly, Clyde, Poodles, Casey, and Millie.
Walking with a dog comes in many different forms: roaming free, follow the leader, and sometimes a game of catch me if you can. There’s walking in the dark, at dawn, or with the sun in my eyes. Walking bundled against freezing weather and walking when it’s too hot for paws or sneakers on toasted sidewalks.
But one of the most interesting things about walking isn’t where I go. It’s whom I encounter along the way.
Sophie is usually very friendly and sure everyone wants to say hello and pet her. She’s quite proud of her Corgi cuteness and other walkers often call her by name. I am practically invisible during her friendly exchanges with others.
Recently, I’ve been noticing all types of walkers. A determined young man several blocks ahead caught my attention with his own version of powerlifting on the go with hand weights. I’ve seen the backpack guy, probably training for a major hike. Then there are the two older ladies, strolling casually and carrying on a lively conversation. And there’s the marcher fellow, straight-backed, with arms swinging by his side, surely retired military.
I haven’t yet mentioned the walkers with their own pets, one, two, even three at a time. Sometimes there’s even a stroller with one or two dogs along for the ride.
Deborah and Roy deserve special mention. Deborah drives to a nearby place of business, where she parks, and walks over to our neighborhood. She knows most of the dogs by name and always stops to visit. Sophie recognizes her a block away, excitedly pulling to join her.
Roy is not the walking type. He sits on his front porch most mornings, calling to everyone who passes by. Sophie loves Roy, knows exactly where he lives, and makes sure we’re on the right side of the street to stop for a petting.
I’ve taken you on a bit of a winding path through my neighborhood, but that’s appropriate; sometimes the most interesting observations come when we aren’t walking in a straight line.
Now, what in the world, you may ask, does this have to do with board members?
Who walks into your boardroom?
Recently, I sat visiting with a small group of board members, pondering the mission of an equally small nonprofit. For some reason, I thought about the walkers. Later that week, they also came to mind while I was in a discussion with another board of directors about matching needed skill sets to possible recruits.
If there’s one thing my fellow walkers have in common, it’s how different we all are. The same is true of nonprofit boards, whose members bring a variety of personalities, skill sets, and experiences. But there’s another important difference every board member brings to the organization: a personal communication style.
Like the walkers in my neighborhood, board members approach their work in different ways. Together, those differences create a unique working dynamic that can strengthen a board or make its work more difficult.
Powerlifting walker: The board member who asks probing questions, helps everyone think more carefully, and stays engaged throughout the meeting, but sometimes dominates the conversation.
Backpack guy: The board member who keeps history stored away and can quickly remind everyone of what worked or failed, helping avoid repeated mistakes, but sometimes resisting new directions.
Casual walkers: Two board members quietly talking between themselves as the meeting goes along. Maybe they’re planning lunch together or testing an idea before sharing it with the rest of the board.
Marcher fellow: The board member who has a goal and destination in mind, is willing to blaze a trail in new directions, but is sometimes reluctant to follow others.
Pet walker: The board member who works well with others, helps build consensus, and sometimes avoids expressing unpopular opinions.
Occasional walker: The board member who participates selectively, perhaps bringing fresh insight to the discussion.
Porch observer: The board member who is present but seldom participates in discussion. Often the quietest members listen carefully and think deeply.
Spoiler alert: None of these communication styles is necessarily right or wrong. And chances are, many of them were represented at your last board meeting.
When differences work together
Imagine a board meeting in which the powerlifter asks one question after another, the backpack guy reminds everyone why a similar idea failed five years ago, the marcher wants to move immediately toward a decision, and the porch observer hasn’t said a word.
Is that a dysfunctional board? I don’t think so.
Their questions might reveal a flaw in the proposal. The historical view might keep the board from repeating a mistake. The marcher might prevent endless discussion. And the quiet member might have an insight no one else has considered.
A strong board brings together people with different experiences, perspectives, and communication styles. But those differences only become strengths when everyone has an opportunity to contribute and be heard.
Board members don’t have to think alike or always agree. They do need to share a commitment to the organization’s mission and create an environment where their differences contribute to better decisions.
A board governs well when it governs together.
Change the conversation
At your next board meeting, instead of letting reports and updates consume the best part of the meeting, give more time to conversations that matter most. Make reflection and discussion a priority.
Consider a few simple changes:
- Start with one or two important questions centered on the organization’s priorities or the effectiveness of the board itself.
- Move reports and updates toward the end of the agenda.
- Provide reports before the meeting whenever possible. Shorten the time spent reviewing them, but always allow time for questions.
Then consider the way your board communicates.
- Do we allow enough time for reflection and discussion
- Are there issues that need to be discussed during more than one meeting?
- How do we make sure we hear from all members of the board?
- Are we confusing silence or agreement with good communication?
And your list can go on and on.
The purpose isn’t simply to get more people talking. It’s to make sure the board benefits from the different perspectives its members bring.
After all, the person who speaks the least may have something important to say. And the person who speaks the most may need an opportunity to listen.
Bring the board together by discussing how you can work more effectively together, turning individual differences into collective strengths.
Different strides, a shared purpose
There’s one more group I encounter on my neighborhood walks.
Living near a university, I regularly see the boys’ and girls’ track teams jogging through the neighborhood.
Unlike the individual walkers, who each have their own reasons for being out and about, these runners are part of a team.
Most days they talk and cut up as they run. Occasionally, a clear leader sets the pace. And I know a track meet is close when the coach is driving behind them, pushing their pace.
Watching them reminds me that moving together doesn’t mean moving in exactly the same way or at the same speed. Each runner has an individual stride, but they share a common purpose.
The same is true of a nonprofit board.
We don’t need everyone to think alike, communicate alike, or approach every issue from the same perspective. In fact, those differences are among the strengths we should look for when bringing people onto a board.
But we also need to make room for those differences once everyone is seated around the table.
A neighborhood is more interesting when we encounter all kinds of walkers. A board is stronger when it welcomes all kinds of voices.
And an organization benefits most when those different voices are heard, valued, and working and walking toward a shared purpose.
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If you have a question or a topic you would like to see explored in future posts, please reach out to me.
The Gift of Giving by Dawn Franks is a practical, inspiring guide to living with purpose through generosity. Filled with real-world wisdom, it encourages readers to make a meaningful difference and leave a lasting legacy. Click to learn more about The Gift of Giving.
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