I recently started writing a blog about the idea that boards could be more useful to organizations if they functioned like high-performing teams. I hadn’t seen much written about this particular approach, and as a fan of Patrick Lencioni, I wanted to explore the analogy. However, as I meandered my way through this writing exercise, I had an insight that made me reconsider the whole endeavor. Why is it that we pose solutions for organizations focused on individuals, department

One of the most important tasks for the CEO/ED and Board of an organization to do is recruiting and selecting board members. Given the valuable support the best board members can offer an organization, board seats should be offered with great care and consideration.

I encouraged organization leaders to lean into their power and be intentional about creating the board and governance system they need to meet the missions of their organizations.

I am struck by how often we abdicate the power we have or seem to forget we have it in the first place - especially when it comes to things that significantly impact our organizations like governance and boards.

Usually that is the most important thing we can do - especially if we are grantmakers making grants to folks who need the funds to do their work or nonprofits providing services to people who depend on them.

If you’re reading this, you are engaging the leader in you. The curiosity in you, your sense of urgency, your desire to choose action, your intentionality to make things better than they are, your integrity, your sense of purpose - all of these things come into play when you do the work of discerning, interrogating, listening, and ultimately acting on the new pattern you come to know. Acting on your insights.