fbpx

Are You on a Dysfunctional Board?

Think about your last nonprofit board meeting. When you left, were you satisfied with what was accomplished? Did attending seem like a worthwhile investment of your time? Did you feel you made a meaningful contribution to the meeting, discussions and decisions? Were you excited and looking forward to the next meeting?

Or was the last meeting a disaster and a time waster?

There is no doubt that many members of nonprofit boards have experienced the pain of dysfunction. The horror stories can range from wasted time on trivial matters to boring “show and tell” presentations from management to virtually no comments by any board member on any matter. Often, one or two members dominate the conversation with opinions and complaints. Frequently, a chair will allow no dialogue or a president plots to ensure complete control of the enterprise.

Ultimately, these kinds of experiences can lead to a level of frustration that drives members away from serving, or leaves members so disengaged they begin to avoid board meetings altogether. Eventually, a failure to have positive experiences at meetings will stifle meaningful commitment and eliminate any real value contributed by the board members.

Dysfunctional boards lead to dysfunctional organizations. When the tone at the top is tainted by a general lack of purpose or commitment by a frustrated or disengaged board, it’s inevitable the board will have no material impact. Weak boards almost guarantee a weak organization. Boards can be a strategic asset to the management, or they can inhibit strategy.

So what can you do, besides resign? The answer is not simple as it will require change and a commitment to exercise leadership.

Move from passive observer to engaged leader, and volunteer to take on one of the tough challenges that everybody else seems to be avoiding. Start serious networking to meet the other board members at times and places unconnected to the nonprofit. You might be surprised with their frustration as well.

Recruit new members, like you, who will get and stay actively engaged.

Befriend the current chair, and offer to help with setting a productive agenda.

Connect with the president/executive director, and become an informal coach/mentor.

Become an advocate for governance training for the board to get everyone back on task, on mission and recommitted.

In short, be willing to say yes to requests to get more engaged. Engagement and action become the platform for you to work on the dysfunction. You can be the change agent that turns a dysfunctional board into the strategic asset it should be.

Gerry Czarnecki is founder and chairman of the nonprofit National Leadership Institute (nationalleadershipinstitute.org), which helps boards of nonprofit organizations become strategic assets to the leadership team. His extensive background as a C-suite executive and CEO is coupled with current board leadership of corporate and nonprofit organizations. He is also chairman and CEO of the Deltennium Group. Contact him at 561.293.3726 or gmc@deltennium.com.

You May Also Like

Pride Week Festival Begins With Tribute to Pulse Nightclub Survivor

Miami Beach Pride’s week-long festivities will commence with a special tribute to the LGBTQ+ community honoring the victims of the tragic shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. A ceremonial “flip the switch” lighting event will illuminate the iconic 1111 Lincoln Road parking garage in pride colors as a sign of solidarity. It is the second

Surfside luxury condo sees notable sales

Arte at Surfside is making waves. There’s, of course, the news that Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are renting at the 16-resident luxury condominium. And there’s the December penthouse sale for $33 million. But other sales are heating up the oceanfront property at 8955 Collins Ave. developed by Alex Sapir and Giovanni Fasciano (both pictured

Up in the Air: A Discussion

In a dynamic region where residents are typically on the move, everyone is wondering about the health of the airline industry and the safety of airports and airplanes. Everyone is eagerly looking for signs about when air travel will begin to normalize. Against this backdrop of COVID-19, South Florida Business & Wealth organized a virtual

South Florida Yachting Legend Passes

Robert “Bob” Roscioli, an icon in the South Florida marine industry, has passed away. Many recognize the name Roscioli from the widely-successful and world-renowned Roscioli Yachting Center, a full service shipyard catering to South Florida’s marine industry. Bob built this business as a passion project, and because of his attention to detail and unique skill,

Other Posts

Four key steps

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text] What a crazy time we are all experiencing. Right now, getting back to basics is most important. It is not and will not be business as usual right away. As leaders, you need to do the right thing to create an atmosphere of support with processes.

Pandemic adds to worries about hurricane season

An above-normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is expected, according to forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. The outlook predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season and only a 10% chance of a below-normal season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from

The difference between leading and managing

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text] Leadership and management are often misunderstood as one in the same. They are not. Certainly, a good leader should be able to manage and vice versa. But, it is important to understand the difference. Both are important to the success of an organization. The key difference

Flattening the housing curve in a pandemic

By Josh Migdal In the classic film Groundhog Day (and yes, it is a classic), Bill Murray’s character wakes up over and over again in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, reliving the same day for (presumably) eternity. Every morning, the alarm goes off at 6 a.m. playing I Got You Babe, assuring both the protagonist and the viewer