5 Steps to Board Chair Success
Not all board chairs are made equal. Being a conscientious board member is one thing: in itself a challenging, time-consuming job. But becoming the chair of the board means a lot more responsibility. As the top volunteer at a nonprofit, the chair must have a commitment to the success of an organization and a vision for its future. A chair must be able to handle people with skill and diplomacy as he or she works with the chief executive, other board members, funders, community members, and other outsiders. A chair must be able to lead, solve problems, chart new territory, and act in the best interest of the organization. If you are a board chair or are considering becoming a board chair, these five steps will help you make a positive impact on your organization.
1. Learn the Job
Know what you’re getting into before you agree to be board chair. Talk to former chairs and other board members about what has worked for the board and what you might try in the future. If there is anything you don’t understand about the organization and how it works, find out now. Talk to staff, donors, members, clients, and anyone else who cares about your organization.
While the job of board chair is more than just running meetings, the ability to run a good meeting is one key to success. Good meetings keep people interested and motivated. Learn how to write and stick to a solid agenda, how to encourage participation from everyone on the board, how to facilitate lively but non-contentious debate, how to resolve conflict, and the other skills needed to keep a meeting running smoothly. Read books, talk with a coach or consultant, or ask for advice from an accomplished board chair in your community.
2. Know Your People
The chief executive is accountable to the board, but you also need to be there for the chief executive. Understand their dreams, goals, concerns, and fears. Make them feel comfortable coming to you about anything, and establish a regular way to work together. Get to know at least some of the staff, and make sure the staff knows you. Schedule lunch or coffee with everyone on your board, individually or in groups, to get to know them and their unique strengths and talents. They will feel more comfortable contributing ideas and asking questions when they know you’re interested in their opinions. Discuss how best to bring diverse perspectives into your discussions in a meaningful way. Introduce yourself to major funders and friends of the organization. Visit the organization’s facilities a few times to see people in action.
3. Build a Team
Make sure the chief executive and staff members know that you and the board are trying to accomplish the same mission they are. Don’t try to protect your board or staff by hiding failure or keeping secrets if there is bad news. Make sure adequate information is reaching the board from the chief executive and staff. Be a good listener. As board chair you must be able to be rational and neutral in heated debates. The board and chief executive must be confident that decisions that are best for the organization will be made. You hold that trust. If you are just too passionate about an issue, find a mediator or outsider to conduct a particular discussion. Your responsibility is to facilitate the board’s search for consensus.
4. Show up in Your Community
Make your presence known in the community. Play up your role as ambassador to the community. Your credibility as the chief officer of the board, and as a volunteer willing to dedicate time and energy to an important cause, is high. Take advantage of that potential for publicity by speaking, appearing, or just talking up your organization whenever you have a chance. Go on funder visits. Use your contacts and make new ones.
5. Look Ahead
As soon as you take office, think about who will succeed you. If there isn’t one already, create a governance committee that is charged with recruitment and orientation of new board members. If you don’t have any good (and willing) candidates on the board for future officers and for chair, find new people from outside who will be able to learn the organization and also have the skills to lead. Provide training opportunities for future officers and chairs. Your job is to keep the organization in great shape for the next person who comes along.
CDS has been a leader in nonprofit fundraising for the past three decades. Contact us for more intensive help with your major gift fundraising, strategic planning, or in preparing for a capital campaign. This article is reprinted with permission from the Board Café, a free newsletter for members of nonprofit boards of directors, copyright CompassPoint Nonprofit Services.