- Remember, they are volunteers. People who give of their time feel some entitlement to get things their way. Use a variation on the old adage that says you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time. You may need to give your board some of their way some of the time, but don’t feel you have to give them everything they want all of the time.
- “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” - George Harrison. Have a clear vision that you can articulate to your board of directors, otherwise you may find yourself on a road leading to nowhere.
- Stay alert and amused. Or in other words, keep things in perspective.
- Communicate, communicate, communicate. Use every form of communication possible to keep your board of directors informed: e-mails, phone calls, breakfast with the executive director, “let’s go have a beer”, personal meetings in the workplace, Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
- “Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” - Will Rogers. Be proactive–don’t wait for them to come to you.
- Can you count to...? Not every vote is going to be unanimous. Be sure you can count on the support of a majority on any given issue.
- Put them to work. Have a role for each member of your board of directors and keep them active in the life of your organization.
- Help with recruiting new members to the board of directors. It’s tough to complain about a board’s make-up if you haven’t helped shape its membership.
- “The point isn’t to be happy. The point is to be doing what you are supposed to be doing.” - Bob Dylan. It won’t always be peaches and cream, just try to keep doing what you are supposed to be doing.
- “In order to succeed your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.” - Bill Cosby. Be fearless.
Submitted by Stacy Litteral, Associate Executive Director, Kids’ Country
