dealing with difficult board membersdealing with difficult board members

There are a variety of kinds of difficult board members. A healthy, vibrant charity can self-destruct with alarming speed by the actions of just one very determined troublemaker. Lets keep going. For a while, things go very well and it seems youve landed a high value, hard working board. I guess I would have to understand a little more about how they are being difficult. A fickle personality or attitude in a board member can be a problem when making decisions because the board member will often flip-flop between one option and another. The orientation goes well and each new director is excited to be joining the team. Tom wanted to leverage his extensive background to fulfill his true callingworking with nonprofit leaders and directors with one over-riding goalequipping those organizations to have the greatest impact on the people they serve. ( Garthson acknowledges that this situation often leads to staff or board members voting with their feet. Lets talk about how much dead weight a typical board has. Foundation Group is your go-to resource for getting it done. The condo board problem: The condo board solution: Short-term measures: Long-term measures: Board Members are an asset Condo Boards: Dealing with Disruptive Members the Right Way As an experienced condominium and rental property management service provider in Alberta, we've heard many condo board horror stories that could have been easily avoided. "Our BoardAssist candidates have been amazing additions to our Board of Directors.". Most often the difficult Board member has a passion for the business and wishes the company well. their job as a director. However, when removal becomes necessary, ensure that your organizations bylaws and state laws are followed, and consult with legal counsel to minimize potential legal risks. With more high-performing board members getting appreciation and feeling valued, you know what dead weight board members start to feel like. By fostering a culture of open dialogue, continuous improvement, and commitment to the organizations mission, your nonprofit can thrive and make a meaningful impact in the community. Ive seen firsthand, both on the boards Ive personally served on, as well as with thousands of clients we have served over the years, most such conflict can be resolved without having to remove a board member. At the most basic level, board members and directors can always fall back on the standard. Rehearse the conversation ahead of time to help smooth out the tougher points. Im not a child and I feel I have the right to refuse something Im not comfortable doing. You need them to change a behavior not because they are a bad person, but because doing so will better serve the organization and your clients. Does your agency Values Statement contain any wording about treating people with mutual respect, courtesy, etc? Click here to read the second article, Dealing with difficult executive directors: Tips for boards. The question is, how do you deal with this situation? 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. For Sutherns, A board that establishes a clear, aspirational governance model accompanied by clear roles and responsibilities decreases the likelihood of conflict with management. She also advises making an obvious channel for conflict resolution. If your board is struggling with certain members and needs assistance with keeping board meetings and tasks in line, contact Spectrum to see how our HOA management service may be able to help. Make a point to listen to their point of view. It is possible that they have a few terrible board members. [category__in] => Array Are you giving them the right information? [author_name] => Dead weight board members frustrate the heck out of you. Finally, do a post-mortem on the process and blind spots that allowed the toxic individual on the board. Remember. A dead weight board member is one thing, but if your entire board is dysfunctional that's quite another. The following suggestions may be helpful when dealing with problem board members: We hope these tips help you in dealing with problematic HOA board members. Some bylaws require a unanimous vote of the other members; some require a particular offense to have been committed; some have other requirements. Whenever I faced performance problems, I always found HR/OD professionals extremely valuable so seek one out if possible. Add insult to injury; the company was running at a loss. ) And, this question hits at the heart of it. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Find out what 25,000 other nonprofits already know! It belongs to the shareholders/private owners. What to do, though, if this person really is the problem? Can you file a section 168 bonus depreciation for a Tesla purchased for business purposes? She has written for the nonprofit sector for almost two decades and loves a good story. In this first of two articles looking at the relationship between an executive director and the board (and even more specfically, the board chair), we want to examine how boards of directors and chairs can sometimes frustrate the effective governance of organizations, and how to address these challenges in a way that benefits both the organization and those it serves. How can we engage them outside of the Board room to keep the director meetings productive? ) Sometimes your leadership and communication style or overall approach may not fit well with each of the directors on the board. [post_parent] => Lets define what this looks like, and then I have some very practical advice to uplevel your board. And one more thinga passionate stand on one issue does not a troublemaker make. Sometimes problems arise over a simple misunderstanding. Download our comprehensive list of each states requirements. Remind the director about the agency's values and how their behavior has violated them, including the damage they have done to the team. Has the director indicated the behavior will change? Sometimes it only takes a single board member to cause a board meeting to be unproductive and time wasting. If you'd like help with your board, come to my free workshop. 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. gtag('js', new Date());

Thank you in advance for any kind of guidance. Someone is not being difficult simply because they disagree with you. Are you dealing with a difficult or toxic board member? 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. What do you do? We promised at the beginning of the article that we would give you some sample language for your bylaws that can help in these situations. Dealing with Difficult Board Behaviors. [tag] => b. Those directors that are most difficult are often those that care the most and are doing the most work. Looking to start a nonprofit? Dealing with difficult board members Most experienced not-for-profit board members will tell you that one of the most rewarding aspects of their position is the opportunity it gives them to work alongside some fantastic colleagues. I want you to spend as little time as possible on the dead weight board members. Everyone can benefit from courses on leadership, decision making, management, and other topics. Managing Bad Behavior If you do come to realize that you are dealing with a toxic board member, many boards wonder how to ask that person to resign. I listen empathetically (my job), but I dont let them off the hook. Confront . Seek his or her reaction to your concerns. This strongly relates to how boards are recruited and onboarded, says Garthson. Sometimes all it takes is a frank discussion. If a NY online retailer uses a CA manufacturer, do we need to collect CA state tax? A group of researchers and consultants recently took a fresh look at the challenges of improving nonprofit boards. Perhaps its a communication problem more than anything else. Watch your dead weight board members self-select off. ) A spreadsheet or an old-fashioned piece of paper. To these comments I might add: Don't ever forget, they are the board. Question regarding of civility: One board member writes an email to the entire board of 5, criticizing the behavior of another board member at a meeting, calling her out as disrespectful and obnoxious . You've just stepped into the shoes of your nonprofit's executive director. Opposing opinions can bring to light new ideas and successful compromises. ( [paged] => 0 ( When you give attention to positive behavior, the toxic person is more likely to shift course to get the recognition he/she craves. Address the issue If you are unhappy with a decision a board member has made for the community you manage or feel as though they are not upholding the core values you have itemized, the first action you should take is to strike up a conversation with that board member privately. Remember they still have full rights as a board member. Sit down with board and explain any lack of clarity about expectations. The first step is for a trusted resident or board member to discuss the . ( If the organization at large is mostly unaware of the conflict, keep it contained by dealing only with those it has affected. Find out what 25,000 other nonprofits already know! 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, Dealing with Difficult Board Members in a Nonprofit: Conflict Resolution and Removal for Cause, Sample Bylaw Language for Board Member Removal, Preventing Future Issues with Board Members. If they are wrong, time will show that and, perhaps you can once again offer a different suggestion of your own. Bottom line is you cant tell someone they are dead weight. No, by difficult, Im talking about someone who just makes everything harder than it has to be. But human nature being what it is, conflict will happen. Whether it be a co-worker, a neighbor, or even that very special in-law, we all have them in our lives. Do damage control. Blair is right. Every board has 1 or more difficult board members. [pagename] => Answers Blair Cook Partner February 5, 2015 As someone with experience working as and with board members in activist situations, we are often considered "difficult" - at least initially. [feed] => It is possible to isolate them without attempting to do an end-around. If your bylaws make it impractical to remove the offender, you must live with them. As a board, determine clear expectations for behaviours and values. The board doesn't trust me. [author__in] => Array Now you can harness the power of volunteer and donor management in one place with Bloomerangs powerful suite of tools! Yup. Often executive directors, board chairs, and fellow directors will let difficult board members fester despite the potential consequences. Some Fed officials favored hiking rates in June, SEC charges former View CFO with negligence-based fraud, CFOs shouldnt let high rates hold them back. Frankly, your president sounds like a bully. [update_post_term_cache] => 1 Worse yet, avoiding the issue may signal to other directors that this is acceptable behavior, creating more of what you dont want. Find the source of the conflict. to submit your question today. 1. Here are some conflict resolution strategies that can be employed: While we might all like to cast aside the possibility of an overreaching and difficult board member in our organizations, even the most well-run nonprofit boards will deal with difficult board members at some point. [page_id] => 0 Well, before moving towards removing a board member, it is essential to try and resolve conflicts through open communication and attempting to understand where this problem is coming from. Luckily for us, he has some great answers and advice. The Bully You can easily spot the Bully by how other people behave around them. In this case you would need to consider modifying your approach if you want to retain this director, and create a better working relationship, or work towards replacing this individual on the board. And its a tough one. and in person 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, don't wait to discuss it with him or her. If you can't justify your position, don't assume you are "right" and others are wrong. It can even take the form of nefarious intent. As part of Bloomerangs Content Donation Program, $100 was donated to Living Proof Exhibit. CharityLawyer Blog offers plain language explanations of complex nonprofit law concepts, discussions of current events and links to valuable resources for nonprofits. . [category__and] => Array [preview] => Offer you studied advice and counsel. Oh, I just saw your head drop into your hands. The best solution, in these cases, may be to simply ask the person to resign. Nonprofit Mergers, Acquisitions, and Affiliations, Churches and Religious OrganizationsTax Resources. When the quote was put to him, he said: "In the period between 2010 and 15, when there was a coalition government, we were dealing with the consequences of the financial crash under the previous . With appreciation, your As stay steady. b. ) I agree with Blair that a meeting with the board member might be in order (assuming the Chairman/woman is OK with it). Not a good place to be. 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. This post originally appeared on the Vantage Point website. So far, so good. Sutherns also advises boards to share collective responsibility and have the courage to ask questions about what the board needs and who is best to provide that leadership. Engage in training. ( Dont take shortcuts! [author__not_in] => Array Learn from our team of fundraising and technology experts. Dealing with Difficult Board Members - the Financial Expert Utilizing external resources to ensure sound board business decisions and smooth operations. ) The difficult member can . Sometimes problems arise over a simple misunderstanding. What you perceive as a problem, might be a misunderstanding. Board members may start doing this with each other, and it builds a board culture that makes the productive and positive people feel valued, while the toxic person gets squeezed out. Rationale: a. The chair was responsive nine out of the 10 actually happened during her 12 years at the organization. Pull out policies as a framework for behaviour when a board member oversteps their boundaries. You should make sure this person sees things as you do. If the member is being difficult, for the sake of it or to boost their ego then, that's a different issue. Instead of forcing a quick resolution on a preconceived timeline, focus on the process rather than the outcome. When you add this critical component to your decision-making process, you can significantly lower the chances of future similar mistakes. Heres the big lesson for today. A pretty good board, a decent board, a better than average board, a Grade B board has ONE-THIRD dead weight. 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?. When human emotions and perspectives cloud the situation, remind all parties to consider the best possible outcome for the organization in the conflict. [m] => Good luck! You need to ignite them and work to convert them to high performers. ( Difficult board members may feel less threatened or attacked when working with a mediator. [fields] => They typically resort to threats or aggressive comments. His stay was in excess required for the meeting (our board members came in the night before and left after the meeting, he was staying two nights), as well as additional hotel bill charges that clearly were not the companies responsibility to reimburse. One can quickly become consumed with navigating the politics and soothing hurt feelings rather than pursuing the business at hand. A few minutes taken to listen to the opinions and ideas of a board member can help to resolve issues. Two problems with generalities. They are often angry or short-tempered and exhibit in-your-face behavior. One or two of your board members starts becoming difficult to work with. You need to look at them as individuals. Give the other person a chance to process your information and talk. [update_post_meta_cache] => 1 The most common omission of human decision-making is the failure to ask how did we get here? A full debrief allows us to assess the human and process variables that led to a negative outcome. The BoardSource study observes that, the rise of professional management, rather than a sudden decline in trustee knowledge and intelligence, may best explain why board members have become increasingly uncertain about their roles. For many board members, it can be challenging to determine the line between strategy and administration, governance and management. Breaching an uncomfortable topic can give rise to many fears. It doesnt matter if people have joined the board to pad their resume or for other less desirable reasons. 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. It speaks volumes when you and your team keep cool. (Think of a childhood did not did too argument; thats what specific examples avoid!). I think both of those would help to avoid this type of situation in the future. When you are dealing with "difficult" directors, appreciate the diversity of thought, first and foremost. Now imagine having ten bosses instead of one. There is often a degree of dissonance between the vital role of boards of directors and their actual practice. They also apply to confronting a staff member, volunteer, client or spouse! Preferably in a public setting. Perhaps a relationship is lost, or worse yet, a director threatens to retaliate for being called out on their missteps. And not only is that common, it is something you should expect. ( Before we get too far into this idea of difficult board members, I want to clarity something really important. When a member oversteps their authority, it takes away the opportunity for the other members of the board to share their opinion, serve their community, and fulfill their own responsibilities as a member of the board.