Adapt to Meet New Challenges

This is the final post, in a four-part series, based on the book, Stop The Non-Profit Board Blame Game, by Hardy Smith.

The book is segmented into four parts and this post addresses the title of part IV of the book.

The final section of the book started out about addressing the culture of a board and changing it to one of performance.  He goes into detail on a pathway to create this transformation to a performance-based culture.
 
I did a blog post on board scorecards and I’m a fan of using it as a tool, amongst many, that you can track the performance of your board.  For a copy of that scorecard go HERE.

The segment ends by addressing board leadership, strategic thinking and board member behavior that affects governance.
 
Board Leadership – it’s about being part of the nominating committee and truly selecting leaders with the skill-set your chamber needs.  For previous blog posts on that go HERE and HERE.

Strategic Thinking – recently there’s been a trend toward Foresight thinking and how it puts a different twist on the process.  That blog post can be found HERE.
 
Board Behavior – remind them of their fiduciary responsibilities, Duty of Care, Duty of Loyalty and Duty of Obedience.  A blog post addressing that subject can be found HERE.

I want to thank Hardy for sending me a signed copy of his book and allowing me to create these past four posts, based on his great work!

For more information on Hardy Smith, you can go to his website HERE.

Create a Positive Board Experience

This is the third in a four-part series, based on the book, Stop The Non-Profit Board Blame Game, by Hardy Smith.

The book is segmented into four parts and this post addresses the title of this post and is part III of the book.
 
This section of the book rightly so addresses the importance of relationships between the CEO and the board and board members with their board member peers.
 
And what’s the best way to build these relationships?  Open, honest and transparent communications with board members.  For me, I personally don’t feel there is such a thing as over communicating.
 
Hardy goes on to discuss the role of recognition and appreciation of your board members, as well as, making sure your volunteers have a positive experience.
 
He finishes this section of the book by highlighting the importance of knowing your board members, board engagement and ways to achieve board diversity.  And he’s not just talking about gender and race.

For a previous post on Board Relations and Leadership go HERE.
 
For more information on Hardy Smith, you can go to his website HERE.

Get the Right People

This is the second in a four-part series, based on the book, Stop The Non-Profit Board Blame Game, by Hardy Smith.

The book is segmented into four parts and this post addresses the title of the blog and is part II of the book.
 
There’s been a lot written on this subject matter, including previously on this blog HERE, over the years.

Hardy discusses practical ways of getting the right people on your board by recruiting with purpose and process.  I would suggest this is the most important part of having a successful and functioning board.
 
I’ll also suggest, as the CEO, you should have a role in the nominating process.  And remember, these decisions, good or bad, typically come with a six-year consequence.  For a previous blog post on nominating committees go HERE.

He goes on to give great practical advice for your board recruiting process.  He addresses why board prospects say yes or say no.  He finishes this part of the book with a chapter titled, Have the Money Talk.
 
My take on the recruiting process for potential board members, and I’ve said it before for years, you want their passion, their intellect, and their money!
 
For more information on Hardy Smith, you can go to his website HERE.

Break the Cycle of Dysfunctional Board Relationships

This is the first in a four-part series, based on the book, Stop the Nonprofit Board Blame Game by Hardy Smith.

The book is segmented into four parts and this post addresses the title above.

Hardy talks about setting expectations for board members.  Do they know what their role is as a board member?  Do you have a job description for your potential new board members?
 
In my opinion, and noted in previous posts, it’s a must!  Go HERE and HERE for two posts, on the subject of job descriptions, for your board.

He also discusses that the frustration can be from both sides, the staff and the volunteers.
 
Based on his research with volunteers, he’s identified seven categories of the biggest criticisms of board members; communication, expecting too much, conflict with staff, conflict within the board, wasted time, lack of organization and the wrong people.
 
While that’s a lot to unpack, his book gives practical advice on how to address each.

He finishes this section with a discussion on finding out why members say yes or no to serving on a nonprofit board.

For more information on Hardy Smith, you can go to his website HERE.

Developing a Strategic Plan

This blog post is based on the title of Chapter 14, of Dave Adkisson’s book, Horseshoes vs Chess.

He starts out by discussing the difference between an internal plan vs an external plan.

Internal – is about getting the chamber back in shape and build the capacity to do more.

External – is about taking it to the next level.  Once your internal mechanisms are in good shape, now it’s time to focus on what you can do for the community (think long-term).

He goes on to talk about how your strategic plan needs to also have a yearly business plan.

For a resource on creating a strategic plan go HERE.

He then went on to discuss reporting on the progress of your strategic plan.

It’s important that these updates be informative and accurate.  It’s about accountability.  The consent calendar is a great place to put the strategic plan update.  Should a specific topic need to be addressed, feel free to make it a topic for discussion as a formal agenda item.

At the end of the day, the strategic plan (3-5 years) and your business plan (every year) progress reports need to be shared, internally and externally.

Remember, your program of work should always be tied to your strategic plan.  Stay focused, your members will appreciate it and support you!

Chamber Leadership

In Dave Adkisson’s book, Horseshoes vs Chess (Chapter 1), he talks about the many different types of leadership styles chamber executives may possess and what that means.

I’m going to focus on four; Surrogate Leader, Catalytic Leader; Aspirational Leader, and Servant Leader.

Surrogate Leader – Dave talks about this style of leadership is for the metro chamber who is hired to manage complex issues dealing with the chamber, government, and the community at large.

Catalytic Leader – as describe in ACCE’s Horizon’s 2025 Initiative, this executive is described as a CEO who can accelerate change for the community.

Aspirational Leader – is the leader who always works to see things to improve, get better for the community.

Servant Leader – is the executive who leads from the middle (my term).  Dave talks about this type of leader must be able to lead out front or from behind.  As Dave states, “this leader is dedicated to a cause of building an effective chamber and improving one’s community is the best underlying indicator of a true servant leader.”

I’d suggest you don’t have to be tied to one leadership style.  It all depends on your situation at a given time.

It’s about adapting your style to make change for your chamber and community.

Strategic Sponsorships: Aligning Members With Your Chamber’s Mission

A recent webinar presented by Jessica Simpson, VP of Membership, Greater Pensacola Chamber, addressed the issue of Strategic Sponsorships.  The following is my take away.

It's a mindset from moving away from individual transactions to a partnership that could last multiple years.

 

She started out by talking about Total Resource Campaigns and at the end of the day, they're all about a sponsorship drive.

 

Strategic sponsorships is all about the opportunity to align what you do with possible sponsors on issues they care about.

 

It allows a member/sponsor to align their sponsorship awareness with a program of work at the chamber (workforce, education, technology). If you do it right, you will see your engagement grow with those sponsors.

 

It’s also important to treat these relationships as partnerships which will allow you to create longterm commitments and not just create one-off transactions.  You don’t want to be in the transaction business, you want to be in the partnership business.

 

Start having conversations with possible sponsors to find out what they care about and what they will support.  If it’s in your program of work as a chamber, you’ve got a match (i.e. quarterly breakfast on a specific subject; Economic, Legal, Health Care, Education, etc.).

Suggestions on who might support those special quarterly breakfasts per issue:

 

• Bank – economic updates
• Hospital – health care trends
• College – education, workforce
• Law Firm – legal trends, policy and regulatory issues

 

I would suggest a three-year commitment to be a named partner for any program you create.  It’s also important that you communicate to your members the support of the named sponsor throughout all your communication channels.

 

Think holistically when setting up a possible partnership program, create a plan and ask your members to sponsor it!