Building a Collaborative Nonprofit Board Team
Collaboration is crucial for nonprofit boards to function effectively. They work together with other boards with committee members, committee members, as well as staff of the organization to carry out the goals of the nonprofit. Ofttimes, however the board’s own ethos can either enhance or limit their collaborative potential.
A nonprofit CEO shared with me about a board team which was plagued by infighting and conflicts of interest, as well as distrust. The executive director of the board hired a consultant to help bring the team back on track. The chair of the board was asked to conduct candid conversations with the group. The chair reluctantly agreed.
The consultant observed that the chair was a favorite and had a close relationship with a small portion of the team. She also noticed that the chair was unable to effectively communicate and didn’t understand how to create trust in the group.
Boards can promote a collaborative culture by making sure that both new and existing members are prepared for it. When you take on new board members, make sure that they are ready to participate in a collaborative culture by introducing them with other board members and giving them the chance to work in small groups with organizational staff prior to the first meeting. This will allow them to get acquainted with the organization and its leadership and develop valuable connections. Provide www.fireboardroom.com/how-can-we-make-our-online-board-meetings-more-effective/ resources that facilitate collaboration between members, for example an online board portal. This allows board members to interact with each other between meetings. The organization of a board retreat or other gatherings, can be a great way to build friendship.
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