Five board habits worth a second look
Every October, I think about the habits boards carry from meeting to meeting. Some of them look like good governance. They feel productive. Then a year goes by, and the board hasn’t moved the organization forward.
Those are the tricks. Here are five I see most often, and the treat I recommend in place of each one.
1. The agenda full of reports
The trick: The meeting opens with the finance report, then the program report, then every committee report. By the time the board gets to anything that needs a decision, half the room is checking the clock.
The treat: Put strategy first. Send reports in the board packet and move routine approvals to a consent agenda. Then give at least half of the meeting to one or two questions that matter for the organization’s future.
2. The vote nobody questioned
The trick: A motion comes up, someone seconds it, and everyone votes yes. It looks like agreement. Often it means people had concerns and didn’t feel comfortable raising them.
The treat: Ask for dissent before you ask for a vote. The chair can ask, “What are we missing?” or “What would make this a bad decision?” For major decisions, assign one person to argue the other side. Good boards disagree in the room so they can stand together outside of it.
3. Showing up without reading the packet
The trick: Board members arrive and read the materials for the first time during the meeting. The executive director ends up walking the board through information everyone already received.
The treat: Send the packet at least a week before the meeting, and keep it focused. Then set a clear expectation: we arrive prepared. A chair who opens with “Based on what you read, what questions do you have?” makes that expectation real.
4. “Fundraising is staff’s job”
The trick: Board members assume the executive director or development staff will handle the money. The board approves the budget and then steps back from raising it.
The treat: Give every board member a role in raising resources, and make it personal. Not everyone will make the ask. Every member can open a door, host a gathering, share the organization’s story, or call donors to say thank you. A simple annual give-and-get plan for each member turns good intentions into action.
5. Terms that renew on their own
The trick: A board member’s term ends, and they roll into the next one without a conversation. Years later, the board has the same people, the same perspectives, and the same blind spots.
The treat: Use term limits and an annual board self-assessment. Before any renewal, talk with the member about whether the fit is still right for them and for the organization. That conversation keeps the board aligned with where the organization is headed.
Pick one
You don’t have to fix all five at once. Choose the trick your board knows best and bring it to your next meeting. Ask the board which of these habits they recognize in themselves. The conversation that follows will tell you where to start.
If your board wants help turning tricks into treats, I’d love to talk. Reach out at stacey@staceywedding.com.