Energize Your Board Directors by Taking Them on a Tour of Organization Operations
It’s important to find ways to energize your board of directors. One easy way to energize your board is to lead them on a tour of your organization’s operations and facilities. Oftentimes, directors are only familiar with the Executive Director and the staff who periodically present at board meetings. Initiating a tour of your operations and facilities introduces the directors to other staff in the organization and gives a refresher of all of the programs supported by the organization. In order to make your tour impactful, consider these two tips as you’re on your tour:
Meet with Service Recipients
November is Native American Heritage Month. If you’re on the Board of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), your goal is to enhance treaty and sovereign rights of Native Americans and improve the quality of life for Native communities and peoples. Staff and Board Directors can visit with one of the tribes to understand how the NCAI is impacting the lives of constituents. As a board director, ask probing questions about the successes and shortcomings of the organization in addressing constituent needs. Understanding the accomplishments and deficiencies of an organization allow you to be a better informed board director to help guide the direction of the organization.
Seek Input from Front-Line Staff
As a Director, the majority of the information you receive comes directly from the Executive Director. While touring your organization’s facilities, make sure you talk to front line staff. Ask them about the successes of the programs from their perspective and ask them their opinion for ways to improve or other areas of focus. This conversation is not designed to subvert the authority of the Executive Director, but to make staff feel heard and appreciated. While board directors do not have authority over employment decisions, it goes a long way for staff to feel like board directors care deeply about the organization, the staff, and constituents.
For more information on board governance and board diversity, follow along on Twitter or Instagram. Nikki McCord is the founder of McCord Consulting Group, the only choice for organizations looking to energize, innovate, and diversify their Board of Directors.