Summary of Exceptional Board Experience

Exceptional Boards: Strengthening the Leadership Team

ASAE Program January 2010

Objectives

• Summarize 2 packed days of Board Training• Review 7 Measures of Success (Non-profit

Baldrige Journey)• Board Roles, Responsibilities and

Characteristics• Board Evaluation

Number 1 Governance Issue

• Structure• Need to maintain Status Quo• Succession Planning• Compelling Vision/Mission (6)• External Perception • Identity of profession and association (2)• Alignment

Association Trends

• Customization & Value

• Knowledge vs. Information

• Transparency & Ethics

• Pace of Change

• Technology Influence/Social Networking

• Member Demographics & Generational Differences

• Time

7 Measures of Success• Commitment to

Purpose• Customer Service Culture• Alignment of Products and

Services with Organization Mission

• Commitment to Analysis and Feedback• Data Driven Strategies• Dialogue & Engagement• CEO as Broker of Ideas

• Commitment to Action• Organizational Adaptability• Alliance Building

Individual Board Member Responsibilities

• Three hats• Governance

• Working together as full board• Designee

• Acting in single leadership position (e.g. functional position)• Volunteer

• Acting as a worker bee for the organization

Board Member Legal Responsibilities

• Duty of Care• Informed, participating, use best judgment

• Duty of Loyalty• Interest of the organization

• Duty of Obedience• Compliance (State, Federal rules/laws)

Characteristics of Exceptional Boards

• Organizational Intelligence

• Stewardship• Relationship Building• Board Development &

Renewal

• Strategic Thinking• Transparency, Ethics

& Integrity• Board Policies and

Practices• Board Culture

Characteristics• Organizational intelligence

• Organizational DNA• Who are we

• Stewardship• Sustainable resources to keep viable• Not Board job to micro manage• Board role is the What of the organization• Staff role is the How

Characteristics

• Relationship Building• Communication between CEO and Board• How does Board reach out to members• How does Staff reach out to members• CEO support, feedback, suggestions for change & improvement

Characteristics

• Board Development & Renewal (Succession Planning)• Recruitment of Board Members• Education of Board Members• Orientation of Board Members• Nominating to Leadership Development

Characteristics

• Strategic Thinking• Is not a natural act• Allocate time to what

matters most• Talk about impediments,

barriers• Insight and foresight

discussion on issues

• Transparency Ethics & Integrity

• Board Policy & Practice• Intentional Policy &

Practice

Characteristics

• Board Culture• 12 Characteristics• Culture of Inquiry• Culture is critical to how Board performs

• Go along• Challenge assumptions• Unity of thought once decision is made

Great Boards

• Climate (culture) trust and candor• Willingness to share information• Invites multiple perspectives• Commitment to assessment of collective board

as well as individual board members

Board Evaluation

• Asked you to conduct the same evaluation we did at the program

• Share and Discuss Results• In which characteristics does our board exhibit

the greatest strengths?• In which characteristics is there the greatest

opportunity for improvement and why?

Action Plan – Next Steps(May Board Meeting)

• Board Evaluation and Assessment• Susan (TL), Diana, Jacque and Stacy

• Governance Policy/Procedure• Cathy (TL), Desila, and Joan