Staffing (Size, Joining, Recruiting, Informing, Communicating,
Rewarding, Removing)
© Copyright Carter
McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC.
|
Vast majority of content
in this topic applies to for-profits and nonprofits. This book also covers this topic.  |
One of the most important aspects of Board operations is Board
staffing. Just like the careful staffing that is usually done
with employees, Board members should be carefully selected, trained
and evaluated, as well. In for-profits, Board members and leaders
must appreciate the strong value that Boards can bring, rather
than tolerating Boards as if they are some necessary evil to be
avoided at all costs. In nonprofits, Board members and leaders
should not approach recruitment and selection as if they are somehow
lucky just to get Board members who will show up at Board meetings.
Board members and leaders in those organizations must act as if
they deserve a very dedicated and participative Board — that
attitude alone can make a huge difference in achieving highly
effective Boards.
There are different perspectives on staffing. Some people believe
that Boards should be staffed primarily with the expertise needed
to establish and achieve current strategic goals (this is functional
staffing). Others believe that staffing should also achieve a
wide diversity of values and perspectives among members on the
Board (diversification staffing). In nonprofits, members are also
sought who have strong passion for the mission (passion-driven
staffing). We’re learning, though, that passion alone is not enough
— Board members also must have the time and energy to actively
participate in the Board. Yet another perspective is to get members
who represent the major constituents of the organization (representative
staffing).
Ironically, many people perceive for-profit Boards as being
more established and effective. Yet nonprofit Boards very often
have highly involved members who take a very strong role in establishing
strategic plans and in ensuring that those plans are achieved.
Board members of for-profit and nonprofit organizations have much
to learn from each other.
Sections of This Topic Include
Board Size
Term Limits
Composition of Board Members (Guidelines, CEO on Board, Independent
Members, etc.)
Joining a Board (potential new member’s perspective)
Recruiting Board Members
Informing, Communicating With Board Members
Rewarding / Recognizing Board Members
Removing Board Members
Also consider
Related Library Topics
Learn More in the Library’s Blogs Related to This Topic
In addition to the articles on this current page, also see
the following blogs that have posts related to this topic. Scan
down the blog’s page to see various posts. Also see the section
“Recent Blog Posts” in the sidebar of the blog or click
on “next” near the bottom of a post in the blog. The
blog also links to numerous free related resources.
Library’s
Boards of Directors Blog
Library’s
Nonprofit Capacity Building Blog
Board Size
The Determinants of Corporate Board Size and Composition:
An Empirical Analysis (for-profit)
Board size and corporate performance: evidence
from European countries
What is the Best Size for Your Board?
How Big Should a Board Be and How Often Should
They Meet?
How
Many Members Should We Have?
Term Limits
Coming to Terms With Term Limits
Board
Spills
The Drawbacks of Board Term Limits
Term Limits for Non-Profit Board Members
Composition of Board Members (Guidelines, CEO on Board, Independent
Members, etc.)
General Guidelines for Determining Composition
Approaches/Philosophies to Staffing Nonprofit
Boards
Board Skills: Building the right board
Sample
Board Recruitment Grid (nonprofit)
4
Actions to Weed Out Resume Builders on Your NGO Board
A Board Mystery: The Case of the Emeritus Director
Sample Board Composition Policy
Dangerously Few Women in the Boardroom
Major
Donor on The Board
Board Gender Balance – a personal perspective
Some thoughts on board composition
Women on Boards and its rationale
Should CEO Be On the Board?
Making
Founder Permanent Board Member at Your Peril
Should CEOs be on the Board?
Divide and Conquer? Splitting the Roles of Chair
and CEO
3 reasons to separate CEO and chairman positions
What About Independent Board Members?
Definition of Independent Board Members
Dark Side of Independent Board Members
Is
Director Independence So Important?
How You Find New Directors: “True Independence”
Under the Microscope
Boldly into the Breach – the Lead Independent Director
What About Diversity on the Board? Honorary Members?
Honorary
Board Members – The Truth and The Consequences
Different Is Better: Why Diversity Matters in the Boardroom
Diversity
in the Boardroom
Will the EU insist on 40% board gender diversity?
What About “Big Names” and “Deep Pockets”
on Nonprofit Boards?
Should
You Try Get “Big Names” and “Big Pockets”
on Boards?
Joining a Board (potential new member’s perspective)
Making
the Transition from Manager to Director
Not Just a Resume Booster: Tips for evaluating
a nonprofit before joining the board of directors
Finding the Right Next Board to Join
Using a Board Seat as a Stepping Stone
Do Good, Sure, But Do It Right — Nonprofit Board Service: a ‘Head’s Up’ Checklist
Thinking About Joining a Board?
How to handle the do-it-all founder?
Back to Basics for Training the Board
Recruiting Board Members
Recruiting for Board Members
Prospective Board Members Who
Are Not Ready!
Avoiding
Pitfalls in Recruiting Board Members
Guidelines
for Recruiting New Members
Sample
Board Recruitment Grid
Sample
Board Application Form
Guidelines
for Orienting New Members
Recruiting Board Members, Volunteers
and Participation
Board Diversity: Bigger Issue Than You Think
10 Stop Signs on the Road to Board Recruitment
Recruiting Your Organization’s First Board
Recruiting for Board Members: Process? What Process?
Board
Recruitment: Whose job is it anyway?
Nonprofit
Board of Directors Guidelines
5
Strategies to Create Active Members on Your NGO Board
Study on Women Donors Presents Lessons for Board
Recruitment
Board Recruitment Demonstration Project
5
Ways To Ensure A Non-Profit Board Candidate A Good Choice
Creating a Board Application
Hosting a Board Recruitment Event
Board Recruitment: Getting the People You Want
NGO Board Member & Professional Volunteer Recruitment
Informing, Communicating With Board Members
Wikipedia on Board Manuals
Sample
Board Manual Index
Annual
Reports
The Board
Manual
Addressing Board Knowledge Gaps
Practical Tips for Presenting to the Board
Rewarding / Recognizing Board Members
The following link is useful for nonprofit Boards. For-profit
Board members often are compensated monetarily (see the next section).
Rewarding
Volunteers (includes several other links)
52
Ways To Motivate Your Board Members
Removing Board Members
How Boards Deal with Lazy Directors
How Do I Remove a Board Member
How do we remove a Board member
›Return to All About Boards of Directors
For the Category of Boards of Directors:
To round out your knowledge of this Library topic, you may
want to review some related topics, available from the link below.
Each of the related topics includes free, online resources.
Also, scan the Recommended Books listed below. They have been
selected for their relevance and highly practical nature.