Boards of directors play an important function in holding nonprofit organizations accountable for their fiduciary obligations and strategic direction. They are a team of people who have diverse backgrounds and expertise to make decisions regarding the direction of an organization. Unfortunately there are many boards that don’t function smoothly. This is due to a lack of planning, training, and communication.
If a particular member’s behavior is causing a significant amount of friction in the Board there is a good time to address that issue. The director’s conduct, whether it is a source of contention, abusive or overbearing, could have a serious effect on the organization and mission.
Direct intervention is the first step to dealing with members of the board who are difficult. The chair of the board should sit down with each member and explain to them that their behavior is unacceptable. Remind the individual that they were selected to the board based on their abilities and experience, and that it’s the best interest of everyone to work efficiently.
The next step is to collect information and documentation about the behavior of the board member in question. A code of conduct is an effective method to prevent undesirable behavior because it sets out expectations for board members.
iBabs board portal lets directors communicate easily between meetings. It also simplifies the follow-up of actions by recording who has opened and read documents. To learn more, request a demo today!