An engaged dissenter is often of much greater value than a unengaged yes-man. Home Board Members Dealing with a Difficult Board Member. The first step is for a trusted resident or board member to discuss the . Though a takeover is usually their aim, they will settle for destruction. It's not. Executive directors with difficult boards also live with personal and vocational strain. It is also important to address the issue, and not via text or email. Sometimes all it takes is a frank discussion. Ask yourself what will allow you to best meet your organizations mission and ask your board member to do the same. An effective way to prevent the need to deal with problem board members is to avoid letting them join the board committee in the beginning. [cache_results] => 1 Foundation Group is your go-to resource for getting it done. We can easily deal with directors who might cause a bit of healthy friction during board discussions as long as they stick to the issues and avoid getting personal or rude. Foundation Group is your go-to resource for getting it done. Because of the power dynamic, executive directors have to be very careful about wading into a dysfunctional board, because often its the messenger who gets shot., Instead, as Jane Garthson, president of the Garthson Leadership Centre says, Executive directors end up quietly commiserating with one another. She adds, They have to be positive with their staff so they find formal or informal peer groups of other leaders who understand the challenge.. Our nonprofit clients range from start-up organizations to some of the most established names in the nonprofit community, and serve interest areas from arts and education to the environment and poverty relief. You have dead weight board members who need to feel like dead weight. Quieter conflict exists on school boards across the nation: a board member or members who abuse their power or have in some other way departed from the board's purpose. Bring in a third-party where necessary or recognize that funders may ultimately step in to hold boards accountable for their dysfunction. a. [tag] => There needs to be a match in terms of passion for a board member to serve effectively., Nineteen of twenty-eight governance consultants asked about their recent work with troubled boards characterized their clients problem as ignorance or confusion about roles and responsibilities. Opposing opinions can bring to light new ideas and successful compromises. Isolate the offender if you cannot remove them. Or maybe the one who seems bent on creating drama and cannot be trusted to be straightforward in disagreements. Unfortunately, the deck may be stacked against youespecially if you have been unaware of the magnitude of the problem or just simply slow to react. 5 Tips for Dealing with Difficult Board Members 5 Traits of a Problem Board Member | HOA Community Management What do you do? The director in question shall be given an opportunity to address the Board before a vote it taken on their removal.. Failing Forward | How I'm Dealing With Difficult Board Members 1. We are having some disput between one of our excutive memeber and two floor members.in our forum members donate some cash and ask the first people to write down their names should get the money but one of the excutive member donate and give names of those that will get while a floor member write under her comment and said that her own will not be different which makes the excutive member to private chat her and told her that she is talking bullshit. Describe how well things (with him/her) used to go and how so much had been accomplished, as opposed to now. Does your agency Values Statement contain any wording about treating people with mutual respect, courtesy, etc? How to Deal With Bad Board Behavior - ASAE Do damage control. Be specific and provide examples to illustrate your point but remember to always be respectful and avoid becoming defensive. Remember that handling a difficult board member is the chairs job, says Garthson. ) Array A recent article in NonProfit Quarterly described it this way: On the one hand, boards are touted as a decisive force for ensuring the accountability of nonprofit organizations. [cat] => Eventually, you create the best panel of candidates you can and invite them to join the board. Can you file a section 168 bonus depreciation for a Tesla purchased for business purposes? He or she will usually attempt to recruit allies on the board, often targeting weaker, less-informed board members. The other option for the B- board member is to slide down into the C category. [update_post_term_cache] => 1 Is Your Association Ready for a Recession? Give the other person a chance to process your information and talk. And, this question hits at the heart of it. If you decide to confront the person, these five tips can help you deal with these difficult board members. Bring specific concerns to chair and strategize together. It is possible to isolate them without attempting to do an end-around. Does any wording currently exist, or could be included, in some of your board approved, agency documents to better describe acceptable behavior? Heres a great clause that outlines a procedure for removing a board member for cause: Any director or officer may be removed from office by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then in office at any regular or special meeting of the Board, provided that written notice of the proposed removal has been given to all directors at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting. While it can be tempting to vent frustrations, try to keep emotions out of the conversation and instead stick to the facts at hand. Make a point to listen to their point of view. Its essential to know your intentions before having this conversation, to remain calm and professional during the conversation, and to have a clear plan-of-action following the discussion. 1. Give me some background I sense you have some experience with this. Inquiry can also be a useful skill in understanding how a persons current life situation may impact their ability to function in this relationship: Whats happening in your life these days you seem impatient?. Frankly, your president sounds like a bully. There is a reason I find myself on the side of shareholder activists these days. Required fields are marked *. (Think of a childhood did not did too argument; thats what specific examples avoid!). [update_post_meta_cache] => 1 Dead weight board members frustrate the heck out of you. And they elect/select the board to represent their interests in the venture. Even if not, letting the person have his or her say will allow you both to fully explore the issue and come to a resolution that fits both of your needs and most importantly, moves your mission forward. Then list all the causes and disobedience is one of them. They typically resort to threats or aggressive comments. Maybe that is true, maybe not. Some even come to appreciate the difference in perspective that we bring. Use executive sessions to discuss problem board members or conflicts. If they are wrong, time will show that and, perhaps you can once again offer a different suggestion of your own. That is a little "old school" for me, but I can deal with it. Humphrey agrees, saying, 99% of problems between boards and EDs come because there is no understanding of expectations in terms of strategic planning and no established policy in terms of roles.. 10 Ways to Deal With Difficult People in Your Nonprofit - Tom Okarma If the board chair doesnt stop sending me those nasty emails I swear Im going to quit! When you give attention to positive behavior, the toxic person is more likely to shift course to get the recognition he/she craves. Perhaps a relationship is lost, or worse yet, a director threatens to retaliate for being called out on their missteps. Good luck! Sometimes your leadership and communication style or overall approach may not fit well with each of the directors on the board. Overstepping Board Members These board members often mean well and sometimes they don't. They cross the line and direct the activities of staff. Dealing with Difficult Board Members - the Financial Expert ) Don't be one of the power mad, top managers. Because you wont invest in your board and you wont invest in the right board members (and youll spend too much emotional energy on the Cs). Use self-evaluation and self-reflection to determine how the board is doing. Sign up to get blog posts delivered to your inbox. I agree with Blair that a meeting with the board member might be in order (assuming the Chairman/woman is OK with it). Practicing Fear Encouragement for Leaders. Group dynamics and interpersonal relationships can go wrong in any sector or situation. With that goal in mind, he started Vantage Point,helping make board service easier, more rewarding, and more effective through common sense governance, effective strategic planning and key board development techniques. So a board of 18 could have as many as 6 dead weight board members. She is also the founder of the Nonprofit Leadership Lab. A chair may sometimes be aware that they are the problem but not be aware of how they can fix the situation. What happens to vested RSUs when issuance or release of shares is deferred? On the other end of the spectrum, some directors pull a ghost act on their board duties, failing to show up for meetings, participate in necessary votes, and manifest an overall lack of preparation, care, and concern for their responsibilities as a board member. Will you move forward with replacing the director? This can have its own challenges if a more effective or experienced board member joins the board and perceives the executive director as holding too much power and responsibility. I have asked clients if they were to start from scratch, how many board members would they keep? Remove the offending board member (if possible). As someone with experience working as and with board members in activist situations, we are often considered "difficult" - at least initially. The orientation goes well and each new director is excited to be joining the team. Thanks! Dealing with Difficult Board Members You're Fired - CooperatorNews Know when to fold em. The example above uses an I-message by describing the behavior in terms of its impact on you or your perceptions of it rather than as the truth. I-messages decrease defensiveness in the receiver who can feel attacked when you use you-messages. Think about the differences of these two statements: Again, the latter example will likely begin a fruitful conversation while the former will make the person defensive, hurt feelings, and not achieve your goal of improving your organization. Focus on the process rather than the product. How to Deal with Difficult HOA Board Members It's fine to challenge the status quo as long as the challenge is well justified and thought through. Create space for problems to be talked about, says Sutherns. The number is often low. How To Deal With Difficult Board Member - Psychology Builds Business Rationale: a. Ellis also advises donors with regard to major gifts. In our sector, the people we serve cant always leave, but they experience the effects of dysfunctional boards just the same. And not only is that common, it is something you should expect. They will want to try every solution until a problem is solved regardless of the cost. We will gladly assist you with any inquiries you may have regarding mediation and problematic board members. If he's the executive director (staff), you (as board) may need to take some actions; if he's board president, then you may need to ask him to step down if he's acting with malice. Remember, just as with staff and volunteers, straight talk with the appropriate party is always the best way to handle these situations. Whether your board member does not perform his or her assigned roles, has a bad attitude or has done something to cast a pallor over your organization, dont wait to discuss it with him or her. List out the outcomes you need to see, in terms of behaviors. Copyright 1995-2023, Foundation Group, Inc. Start a Private Foundation SureStart PF, 501(c)(3) Recovery For Revoked 501(c)(3) Status, Charitable Solicitations (Fundraising) Registration, Assurance Membership Plan Bundle Annual Compliance Services. A Warm Welcome to Gen Z, Pursuing Series B Funding? Start transforming your board today with the help of my free workshop! But dont try to do this alone. They determined the three most prevalent board performance problems: dysfunctional group dynamics; disengaged board members; and, most importantly, uncertainty among board members about their roles and responsibilities. Sometimes its the only solution. [posts_per_page] => 20 Few things make my blood boil as much as top executives acting as though the entity belongs to them and they are beyond reproach. Oh, I just saw your head drop into your hands. The difficult member can . Learn how your comment data is processed. Please add your thoughts about it below. They have to feel like dead weight, get uncomfortable about it, and when they feel uncomfortable, they will find their way to comfort by stepping aside. I think both of those would help to avoid this type of situation in the future. Lets just use a technical term. With appreciation, your As stay steady. To these comments I might add: Don't ever forget, they are the board. Does your Board Policy Manual cover these challenges? This can be more difficult that you might think. While governance models make it clear that boards of directors hold the power within nonprofit organizations, struggles for power and authority often emerge because, as a paper issued by US-based Governance Matters for Nonprofits observes, There are no firm guidelines about where board oversight leaves off and executive management begins. Executive directors may find themselves saying variations of the following, quoted from the above mentioned paper: Governance consultant and author of The Guide to Positive Staff-Board relations for Directors of Nonprofit Organizations, Sandi Humphrey, says, Its very difficult for chief staff officers to walk into the board meeting and tell them they are doing a lousy job. Lianne Picot, executive director of the Peel Leadership Centre, agrees. Usually, after working with us for a few quarters, we gel better with our fellow board members and management. Meet with them one-on-one to understand the challenges. Board members must give undivided allegiance when making decisions. wasting his time with questions at a meeting with at vendor who attended the meeting in order to explain the complicated Insurance Policy. Humphrey agrees. And it does. [comments_per_page] => 50 I ask a series of questions that help nonprofit leaders, board, and staff understand that they dont have terrible boards. We offer New Yorkers who want to make a real change in the nonprofit world an unrivaled selection of board options and advice on selecting the right one for them. James R. McCormick Jr., a partner at Peters & Freedman LLP in Encinitas, Calif., who represents associations, is currently advising two associations on the issue of bully board members. Not a good place to be. ) There was no thought in finding less expensive hotels, car rental companies or flights. The question is why this board? I have worked Greg McRay is the founder and CEO of The Foundation Group. How to Maintain Team Cohesion in the Chaos. 4 Tips to Dealing with a Difficult HOA Board Member - TownSq Get the entire board involved in some professional development courses. Because of that, we tend to shy away from them. Required fields are marked *. Most of the time, thats exactly what we get, but from time to time a board member may become a problem. Incorporating preventive measures such as clear expectations, regular board evaluations, and a diligent recruitment process can help minimize future issues and promote a more effective and cohesive board. Are they asking tougher questions that the rest of the board? They also apply to confronting a staff member, volunteer, client or spouse! If your board chair and/or governance committee chair feel your style and approach were not causing the problem, and this challenge was more global to the board itself, then its time to gather facts supporting your concern about the directors behavior and how it has and continues to impede the agencys mission and progress. A spreadsheet or an old-fashioned piece of paper. [page] => 0 As a one month new board member with no experience I was asked to take the minutes of the board meeting and the homeowners meeting in the absence of the secretary. Remember they still have full rights as a board member. You've just stepped into the shoes of your nonprofit's executive director. Sometimes problems arise over a simple misunderstanding. The car stalls or otherwise gets lost from its destination. It isn't the OP's company. function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} Finally, do a post-mortem on the process and blind spots that allowed the toxic individual on the board. Provide a wish list. No board or management team is above answering to simple business principles. After all, no one should want a room full of yes people serving on the board. What to do, though, if this person really is the problem? Make a motion to change by-law disciplinary procedure to subject the sender of any email or other communication among board members to a disciplinary procedure for uncivil communications. Dealing with Difficult Nonprofit Board Members - Foundation Group Often, it is a lot easier to prevent these problems than having to deal with them once they rear their heads. He/she is beholden to that board that is beholden to the shareholders. Productivity suffers and resentments build. [search_columns] => Array [hour] => Sutherns suggests asking questions to understand governance policy as well as board and chair responsibilities. And its a tough one. Reach out to other nonprofit leaders in your circle of advisors and colleagues before taking specific action. If a director is just being difficult because its their personality, then its up to the Chairman of the board to speak with the individual and resolve their differences. Then meet with the director to discuss the challenge. [suppress_filters] => For a while, things go very well and it seems youve landed a high value, hard working board. Resources can easily be accessed to see frequent ways boards go wrong. Ive sat on boards with people who certainly made things challenging, but often that is a good thing. Go through your list of board members. Mainly because we ask a lot of questions and we challenge management 's current approach. Straight-Up Encouragement: Can You Still Kill Snakes? Feign ignorance if necessary. But then, something starts to subtly shift. Picot recommends collecting stories from board members, such as asking them how they feel they have helped or how they have wanted to help but been unable. The first step is to help people find the knots and to realize which ones would be most useful to deal with first. Anyone executive director, board chair or board member who perceives a problem with a board needs to consider whether the root issue is a single person or the entire group, and whether it is based on leadership or interpersonal conflict. to submit your question today. Every board member from hell got recruited by someone who thought they would be good so how did they become the board member from hell? [p] => 0 ) [post__in] => Array Want to learn from a growing community of nonprofit leaders and get exclusive access to content from a variety of experts? Diane: On the other hand, members who disagree because they have their own interests in mind or desire to be spiteful, become more problematic. I cant even order stationery without the board wanting to get involved. Those directors that are most difficult are often those that care the most and are doing the most work. ", This question was asked at a recent webinar, now available on-demand: "CFO to Chief Trusted Advisor: Earning that Role with Your CEO". Now imagine having ten bosses instead of one. ( I dont want the board breathing down my neck when things are so tough right now. Difficult board members are like anchors when it comes to your nonprofit. [minute] => He is registered with the IRS as an Enrolled Agent and specializes in 501(c)(3) and other tax exemption issues. To minimize the likelihood of future conflicts and problematic board members, consider implementing the following measures: Dealing with difficult board members in a nonprofit can be challenging but if the situation arises, you must know how to deal with it to maintain a productive environment. A group of researchers and consultants recently took a fresh look at the challenges of improving nonprofit boards. Invite their insight and perspective on the issue and see if they believe it is an overall board challenge, or perhaps only a challenge one-on-one between this board member and you. As long as I have the answers, then I just roll with their attitude. Problems arise when board members put their own interests before those of the community. Tip 1. Has the director indicated the behavior will change? Harmony is great, but homogeny often is not. Next to each board members name, follow these steps. 5 Tips for Dealing with Difficult Board Members CharityLawyer Blog offers plain language explanations of complex nonprofit law concepts, discussions of current events and links to valuable resources for nonprofits. You may also choose to have written and detailed job descriptions for each position within the board and require each member to sign an agreement stating that they understand their responsibilities and roles. Whenever I faced performance problems, I always found HR/OD professionals extremely valuable so seek one out if possible. And you will spend more emotional energy with your B board members and your clients or your cause or your art, and you will find yourself with more gas in your tank for the work that matters. Supporting prosocial behavior rewards the great board members' behavior. In this email, he also suggested that the board member with the questions resign if she can not "improve her behavior". It usually takes a champion on the board willing to see what support there is for a change in chair. She also says that a governance or board development committee may have the legitimacy to directly address concerns with the board chair, although she suggests doing so privately and offering the chair suggestions for training or other assistance to improve. If it was malicious, you will need to monitor and continue to review his conduct. Very careful selection of board members on the front end can certainly reduce the likelihood. Remember. ( My People Have Arrived! When a member of the board agrees to take on a certain responsibility and then fails to follow through it can cause a lot of problems among board members as well as the whole community or all involved. Here are some conflict resolution strategies that can be employed: Its crucial to start here. Please stop saying that to yourself, your staff, your spouse, your pet, or your imaginary friend. Bottom line is you cant tell someone they are dead weight. While that is one outcome, there are other ways to work around a board member's counterproductive behavior. Rogue School Boards: What Can We Do? | Resilient Educator [m] => [order] => DESC You might just move them into the B+ category and you can then start the B+ strategy with them. The goal is not to create, or increase existing conflict, but to find common ground, and move towards resolution even if this means removing someone from the board. Duty of loyalty: allegiance. As a leader, you CANNOT allow this to happen. [embed] => Boards of directors, by law, hold nonprofits accountable to the broader community through what are broadly described as duties of loyalty and care. Many states also require registration if your organization collects substantial or ongoing donations from their residents, even if you arent specifically targeting donors in that state. It doesnt matter if people have joined the board to pad their resume or for other less desirable reasons. [no_found_rows] => First, if I can demonstrate one caring act, I disprove your argument. After all, no one should want a room full of. 5. [post_parent__in] => Array But unfortunately, thats not always true.
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