board training
Don’t take Board service lightly. It is an important responsibility. To be a good board member and a good steward of the organization for which you serve it takes significant commitment, if you’re serious about doing the job well. We get asked to serve on a board and often we say ‘yes’ before we think about the full scope of the job. It’s best to think before you respond to this flattering request.
It takes time to be a valuable board member and lots of it.
If a board member is unclear about their responsibilities they probably will disengage rather quickly or they will tend to micromanage the Executive Director. So it is critical to understand the do’s and don’ts of what a board members job is. Different organizations tend to have different expectations of what a board member should do. Make sure you’re having board orientations regularly so that all the members are up to speed!
I’ve found that most of the organizations I’ve been involved with have orientations that talk more about the organization than what is expected of me as a board member. Sometimes we’re so delighted that someone has volunteered that we do a soft sell on the expectations of the board members because we don’t want them to change their minds. I am not a proponent of the warm body theory. Sometimes no board member at all is better than someone who just shows up for lunch.
Board Member Check Up
Here’s a quick and easy set of questions to answer to check how you’re doing:
Board Members Duties |
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You attend all the board meetings |
You volunteer at least 6 hours each month |
You verbally contribute and question what you do not understand during the board meetings |
You know the vision and the mission of the organization |
You have read the bylaws and you understand their meaning |
You understand the roles and responsibilities of board members |
You are not afraid to ask about things you don’t understand |
You know as a board member you have fiduciary responsibility to the organization You are passionate about the Vision and Mission of the organization |
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If you answered yes to most of the questions, you are on the right track to being a good board member.
Training & Workshops
Here are just a few of what we offer in the way of getting your board members up to speed
Fear Not the Ask
Everything you always wanted to know about how to be the best darn fundraiser in your organization, but you guessed it, you were afraid to ask!
How to be an Effective, Communicative Board
Learn the nuances of board composition and the subtleties of effective communication. We’ll cover the good the bad and the ugly when it comes to board members and recruitment. Assessments are necessary for this training session
How to Run an Effective Board Meeting
Meetings are vital to the organization of work and flow of information. They serve to disseminate critical information, communicate ideas, brainstorm and build strong teams. Meetings are essential pieces to the organizational puzzle, however, meetings get a bad rap because they are mismanaged. Learn how to run a meeting that is productive, fun and effective. This is helpful even if you are not running the meeting!
Board Roles and Responsibilities
Do you know what is expected of a board member-besides eating all your lunchJ Well this workshop is a good place to start. We’ll cover the essential roles, the tough jobs, and how to be the best board member possible.