We are frequently asked to lead workshops on promoting community service and encouraging people to consider joining nonprofit boards of directors. We always advise these potential board members that the first question to ask when being recruited is, "Why me?" A board that has its act together should be able to answer that question in detail and in a manner that demonstrates they are thoughtful and strategic in their recruitment.
For nominating committees, that means starting the nomination process by looking first at your strategic plan. What skills, talents, and abilities will you need on the board in order to move your plan forward over the next few years? Do you have those kinds of attributes on your board already, or are there gaps? Only after you have done this kind of analysis should you begin to move on to talk about specific names.
Think about it from the perspective of your potential board recruit. Which is better? "We are asking you because your neighbor said you are a great guy," or "Over the coming year or two, we anticipate that we are going to need the experience and counsel of someone who has had success in promoting new legislation on the state level and who can help us develop strategies to move some key legislation forward on behalf of the clients we serve."
When we tell organizations, "be strategic in your board recruitment," we mean, "start with a review of your strategic plan, and then recruit people who can help you achieve your goals."
For more information about how Starboard Leadership Consulting can assist you with strategic recruitment of board members, check-out the "Board Governance" section of our web site: www.starboardleadership.com.
