I have been delighted to learn that many of my best colleagues cringe just as I do at the phrase “best practices.” Best for whom? When? Why? Let’s take an example. It’s best practice to avoid having spouses on a board. And many of us have seen horrible results from such arrangements. If one spouse … Read more
Proposed approach for Intentional Governance: An explicit desire to improve governance is voiced and appears to have majority support. A conscious decision is made, at least on first steps. A committee or working group is formed with an assigned purpose of recommending enhancements. A work plan emerges after deliberate discussion of the nature of desired change.
In 2018, Stephen Nill invited me to publish on CharityChannel my most recent experience where I stepped in as the interim executive. I did that in my article, You Are Now the Interim Executive. Now What?, also published as the most recent blog post before this one. In this article, I switch perspectives. I address … Read more
Governance specialists encourage board members to have inquiring minds and to ask challenging questions. You can’t add value by rubber stamping recommendations. That does not mean that asking why kitchen supplies increased by $42 over last year, in a four million dollar budget, is a good question! Nor are questions like, “Are you out of … Read more
Stephen Nill invited me to share my most recent experience where I stepped in as the interim executive and successfully led the nonprofit organization to a healthy place, ready for its next full-time executive director. I’ll do that and go further – I’ll give you the benefit of my experience by talking about the questions … Read more