23 Oct What Makes a Great Board Member?
An Entrepreneur recently asked me to explain what makes a good board member. In a nutshell, good boards require board members who have a large network within the industry, a deep understanding in a particular issue or problem and strong connections to the finance industry. While these are all essential however, there are some other characteristics that are often overlooked in the search for a good board member – a passion for the cause an ability to listen and speak with a sense of humility and a willingness to go the extra mile are equally important to ensure that a board operates at its highest level.
A great board of nonprofits is passionate about its mission and demonstrates that passion through their actions. This could mean taking part in fundraising walks, volunteering at events, or even contacting city legislators The board member is dedicated to helping those individuals they serve. This is a characteristic that cannot be taught and can either make or break an organization.
Good judgment is a prerequisite for any board, but it is especially important in nonprofit governance. A board with an egregious record of poor judgment (whether in approving strategies, hiring and firing, or M&A transactions) is doing the organization an injustice. A good judgment requires wisdom and that typically comes from many tough decisions, a few failures, and a lot of smarts.
The last thing I believe is essential for the best board members is a keen understanding of the importance of collaboration. The most effective board members understand that their success relies on their ability to work together regardless of whether it’s at the board meeting or at an event for fundraising. They invest the time needed to build coalitions among their fellow board members.
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