Blog - Starboard Leadership Consulting, LLC

Structuring the agenda for your first board meeting as chair

One of the most visible and obvious roles of the board chair is to run the board meetings. Once a month, once a quarter, or whatever your meeting schedule may be, your leadership ability takes center

Posted by: Elaine Fitzpatrick Created on: Mon 14 May 2012 10:29 Last modified: Mon 14 May 2012 10:35

This article was posted in Board Chair Companion

The “how we work together” meeting with the chief executive

The board chair and the chief executive need to work as partners. The success that you each have separately and together can hinge upon the success of the relationship and the quality of support you

Posted by: Jeff Wahlstrom Created on: Mon 07 May 2012 08:10 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Board Chair Companion

The Board Chair's Job Description

The board chair's job description

If you've not yet seen a written job description for the board chair, you are not alone. I think this is due, in part, to how board chairs are usually

Posted by: Elaine Fitzpatrick Created on: Fri 27 April 2012 13:39 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Board Chair Companion

In Board Member Recruitment, It Matters Who Asks

Board recruitment is a board responsibility. One more time. Board recruitment is a board responsibility. Yet too often the recruitment duties fall to the executive director (E.D.) or CEO. They

Posted by: Elaine Fitzpatrick Created on: Wed 22 February 2012 14:30 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Board Recruitment

How long will it take to complete our strategic planning process?

One of the biggest time variables in any planning process is the amount of stakeholder involvement you choose to have (see our earlier blog entry, "Who to involve in the strategic planning process").

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Wed 22 February 2012 10:57 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Strategic Planning

Who to involve in the strategic planning process

Recognizing the inefficiency that often comes with committee processes, it can be tempting to think that you could develop a strategic plan in short order by just getting the "right people" in the

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Wed 15 February 2012 10:47 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Strategic Planning

Know what you want before you begin the strategic planning process

We worked with a client where all of the key players indicated that they wanted a strategic plan, but when we started asking questions, we found they each wanted something really quite different at

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Wed 08 February 2012 09:46 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Strategic Planning

The first meeting of the nominating committee

Does it alarm you that I suggest that one of your measures of success for the first meeting of the nominating committee should be that NO potential nominees' names are put forward or discussed? It

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Mon 30 January 2012 11:48 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Board Recruitment

Why NOW is the right time to start your planning process

There are lots of reasons that are given for deferring planning to later:

· We have too much going on right now

· We need to add some new board members before we start planning

· We need to

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Wed 25 January 2012 09:51 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Strategic Planning

8 reasons why executive directors should want a strategic plan

Nonprofit leaders always have a lot on their plates, and while they often want to have a strategic plan, there are plenty of obstacles that can get in the way of launching a strategic planning

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Mon 16 January 2012 09:45 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Strategic Planning

8 reasons why board members should want a strategic plan

As described in our earlier blog entry ("Why board members fear strategic planning") volunteer board members can usually find a number of reasons to avoid embarking on strategic planning, but we

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Tue 10 January 2012 14:55 Last modified: Tue 21 February 2012 16:29

This article was posted in Strategic Planning

Why board members fear strategic planning

We find the biggest obstacle in the way of embarking on a strategic planning process is the last strategic planning process. Too often the last planning process took too long, involved way too many

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Thu 05 January 2012 17:13 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Strategic Planning

So what is a strategic plan anyway?

For years we've been telling anyone who will listen that, "Not having a strategic plan is like trying to sail without a rudder." You are at the mercy of the changing winds, and you'll have little

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Tue 27 December 2011 13:30 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Strategic Planning

Do we really need a strategic planning retreat?

For some, the word "retreat" is a dirty word. It too often means a day (or more) spent in a windowless room engaged in conversations and discussions that rarely do much to advance the organization.

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Mon 21 November 2011 15:49 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Strategic Planning

Don’t wait to engage new board members

People don't join boards to sit back and watch. They want to make a difference, and they want to do meaningful work. Engage them in meaningful work from the beginning and don't make the mistake of

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Fri 07 October 2011 14:53 Last modified: Tue 21 February 2012 16:30

This article was posted in Board Recruitment

Tips for new board member orientation

We advise our clients to give some careful thought to how they will orient their new board members before they recruit them. Think about the message it sends to the board prospect when you are able

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Mon 03 October 2011 11:48 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Board Recruitment

7 Tips For a Successful Board Member Recruitment Meeting

Assuming that you have gotten the appointment to meet with the prospective board member, done your homework, and really prepared in advance, the following tips should help to successfully guide you

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Thu 22 September 2011 09:07 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Board Recruitment

Board member recruitment must be done face-to-face

Asking someone to join a board is an important request and should be done in person. This is not a time to make your ask in an e-mail message, a Facebook posting, or a phone call. Even if the person

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Tue 20 September 2011 09:46 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Board Recruitment

Before asking someone to join your board, make sure you you’ve got your act together

When we ask someone to join a board, we are usually asking them to make a multi-year commitment, take on fiscal and legal responsibility for the organization, shoulder some level of risk, commit to

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Tue 26 July 2011 11:40 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Board Recruitment

Building Diversity on Your Board or Advisory Council

Many organizations talk a good game when it comes to diversity, but talking about diversity and achieving it are two different things. Too often diversity is that item on the "to do" list that the

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Tue 28 June 2011 14:52 Last modified: Tue 21 February 2012 16:29

This article was posted in Board Governance

Can you answer the question, "Why me?" when recruiting?

The kinds of individuals who you really want to invite onto your advisory council or your board are likely to ask you, "Why me?" The best candidates know that you must want something more than their

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Fri 10 June 2011 09:52 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Board Recruitment

What if someone else chooses your advisory council members?

Sometimes advisory council or advisory committee members are selected by someone outside of your organization--a political appointment, for example. We worked with one organization that would simply

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Wed 08 June 2011 08:06 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Advisory Councils

Before you recruit, know what you want.

Looking at the title of this blog entry, it might seem logical (and grammatically correct) to suggest that it should read, "know WHO you want." After all, isn't that how most advisory council

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Mon 06 June 2011 08:58 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Board Recruitment

Staffing an advisory council should not be taken lightly!

We knew an executive director of a nonprofit who did a time study (tracking her time by 10 minute intervals) that showed that she was spending more than 40% of her time on the business of the

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Thu 26 May 2011 15:40 Last modified: Tue 21 February 2012 16:32

This article was posted in Advisory Councils

Are your advisory committee members engaged in your work?

We always learn so much when we volunteer! In this case, we are familiar with an advisory committee that has been in existence for over a decade. Where they once played an especially active role in

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Tue 24 May 2011 12:02 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Advisory Councils

Advisory Councils Need a Guiding Document

In much the same way that a board of directors is guided by bylaws, advisory councils or committees should have a guiding document too--a statement of organization and purpose that describes the role

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Wed 18 May 2011 16:29 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Advisory Councils

For Advisory Councils, WHEN you meet matters!

We were at a meeting recently where a hospital administrator was talking about their ACO Patient Advisory Council and the goal of engaging a diverse cross-section of patients. As she talked with some

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Mon 16 May 2011 09:15 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Advisory Councils

Are You Ready for Advice From an Advisory Council?

The name "advisory council" suggests that there will be advice offered. While the intention may be that the advisory council is offering advice to the board of directors, be sure that the board

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Thu 12 May 2011 07:56 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Advisory Councils

Advisory Council Members Don’t Want To Monitor

One of the biggest mistakes organizations make with their advisory councils (and with their boards) is to limit them to a "monitoring" role. They bring well-intentioned volunteers together, fill the

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Wed 04 May 2011 15:37 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Advisory Councils

What Would YOU Want From an Advisory Council?

What if you were asked to join an advisory council or committee? What would you want from that experience? What would make it a meaningful experience for you? What would be required in order for you

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Tue 03 May 2011 10:54 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Advisory Councils

Be Clear About The Purpose of Your Advisory Council

At their best, an advisory council can provide a tremendous benefit to your organization and the pursuit of your organizational mission. At their worst, they can drain resources, tie staff in knots,

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Mon 02 May 2011 07:56 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Advisory Councils

What You Call Your Advisory Group Matters

It is important to be clear about the difference between a board of directors (or board of trustees) and an "advisory council," and it is especially important that the members of your advisory

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Thu 28 April 2011 10:20 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Advisory Councils

ACO Advisory Councils – More Than Just Meeting the Requirements

One of the outcomes of the recent federal healthcare legislation is the development of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). An ACO is a local health care organization (often a health care system)

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Tue 26 April 2011 13:31 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Advisory Councils

Start Succession Planning with Strategic Planning

The loss of a CEO or executive director can be crippling, if not planned for properly, but it doesn't have to be that way. It is a rare leader who wants to see the organization into which he or she

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Mon 18 April 2011 15:33 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Strategic Planning

Are you ready if board recruits ask, “Why me?”

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

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Fri 15 April 2011 09:38 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Board Recruitment

Five Internal Controls for the Very Small Nonprofit

We love "Blue Avocado" and the nonprofit advice offered there: http://www.blueavocado.org/.org. In this case, we want to recommend to you an

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Thu 14 April 2011 12:44 Last modified: Wed 22 February 2012 14:26

This article was posted in Board Governance

Understanding the Cyclical Nature of Board Behavior

We often talk in workshops and with our clients about the stages that nonprofit boards pass through in their "evolution." It turns out that those "stages" might be "cycles" that boards are destined

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Tue 05 April 2011 08:54 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Board Governance

You Can't Go Wrong with Value Statements

As part of the strategic planning work we do with clients, it is not unusual for us to engage in discussions about organizational values. While the mission succinctly tells people who you are and why

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Wed 30 March 2011 08:15 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Strategic Planning

Keys to Highly Efficient Meetings

Don't meet to report. Today our most valuable commodity is our time. If you are lucky enough to get people in the same room together, don't waste their time with reports and updates that could easily

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Tue 29 March 2011 09:38 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Board Governance

Nonprofits and the LePage Administration

As a new administration and legislative leadership prepare to go to work in Augusta, they need to pay attention to recent survey results indicating that seven in ten Americans trust nonprofit

Posted by: Starboard Leadership Consulting Created on: Thu 24 March 2011 14:56 Last modified: Tue 21 February 2012 16:33

This article was posted in Opinion

Is it Mission? Or is it Vision?

Over the years we've seen well-intentioned people cause strategic planning sessions to grind to a halt over personal definitions of "mission" and "vision." Somehow the words and concepts have become

Posted by: Jeff Wahlstrom Created on: Wed 23 March 2011 14:35 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Strategic Planning

"My board has no appetite for strategic planning"

We were recently in a meeting with a potential client who sees the value of strategic planning and wants to get started but who said to us, "You need to understand that my board has no appetite for

Posted by: Jeff Wahlstrom Created on: Fri 21 January 2011 16:21 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Strategic Planning

The Starboard Watch

Newly Enacted Tax Legislation Provides Unprecedented Wealth Transfer Opportunities for Family Owned Businesses

The December 2010 tax relief legislation (P.L. 111-312) contains several provisions

Posted by: George Eaton Created on: Tue 18 January 2011 10:26 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in The Starboard Watch

Plan for your Future

This past week I heard a speech by Steven Kinzer of the NY Times where he noted that, "It doesn't take a lot of intelligence to determine that countries that spend a lot of time thinking about the

Posted by: Jeff Wahlstrom Created on: Tue 18 January 2011 10:23 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Strategic Planning

Take Control of your Future by Planning

This past week I heard a speech by Steven Kinzer of the NY Times where he noted that, "It doesn't take a lot of intelligence to determine that countries that spend a lot of time thinking about the

Posted by: Jeff Wahlstrom Created on: Tue 18 January 2011 10:21 Last modified: Never

This article was posted in Strategic Planning

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