Boards tagged posts

Choose not to be insulted December 15, 2021 Association Insights, Emotional Intelligence No comments

2012 was by all metrics an amazing year for our nonprofit. We had increased membership 250% in just nine months, achieved a 95% positive service rating from our members and had the most successful annual conference in recent history. Cash flow was growing accolades were glowing and the New Year was on track to be another record breaker...

Is email the bane of nonprofit progress? December 15, 2021 Affective Leadership, Association Insights, Emotional Intelligence No comments

Most nonprofit boards are risk averse so we find that the most effective way to make significant progress is to invest our own time and money to develop, test and prove service systems without any form of guarantee or initial investment required by the board. In the first year we typically lose money but once we work out all the bugs and have successful systems in place we are typically treated like valued partners and compensated fairly for continuing to provide the service...

Get your business growing by NOT Knowing December 15, 2021 Emotional Intelligence One comment

In Employees First, Customers Second Vineet Nayar describes his first “Mirror Mirror” meeting with team members. He had recently accepted the role as CEO of a highly successful IT company that in spite of growing at 30% was falling behind industry leaders. Instead of spouting his vision for the future he said “I don’t know all the answers, in fact I probably don’t even know the right questions. The answers will have to come from you...

What is the optimal board size? December 15, 2021 Emotional Intelligence

If you are a swimmer the 16 toes may be perfect but if are part of a decision-making group too many piggy’s can spoil the process. According to Decide and Deliver: 5 steps to Breakthrough Performance in your Organization [ii] seven is the ideal number for a decision-making group and that each additional member reduces performance by 10%.

Where was this little factoid when I really needed it? For years we pleaded with our board of 18 to downsize but to no avail...

Recycling the Same Old Issues? December 15, 2021 Affective Leadership, Association Insights, Emotional Intelligence, Green Solutions, Peer Powered Performance No comments

I am a recycling Neanderthal; I get confused about what goes where, do tops stay on, what kind of plastic is or isn’t recyclable, especially if there are bins or labels I may be unfamiliar with. Truth be told if I am in a hurry and can’t quickly decide (or don’t have my reading glasses) I give it my best guess and in they go. Reflecting on my sorting conundrum I realized this is exactly like the process nonprofit boards and staff go though.

The distribution of board/staff responsibilities ...