Let’s cut to the chase.
If you want to achieve extraordinary impact, your board needs to be fully-engaged.
This is a no-brainer.
Indeed, when your board is fully-committed and actively involved in your nonprofit’s mission, great things are going to happen.
Said another way, if you want your nonprofit to SHINE, your directors have to be zeroed in, dialed in, and all-in.
The problem? Nearly 75% of boards are not nearly as engaged as they should—or could—be.
Ouch.
The good news? There’s a clear and simple way to fix it.
Stop Talking!
Listen, most nonprofit CEOs make a huge mistake when trying to engage their boards during meetings.
What’s the mistake?
They start talking. Then they keep talking. And then they keep right on talking. And just when you thought they were done… you guessed it, they keep right on talking.
When it comes to board engagement, this is a big, big, BIG problem.
In fact, research study after research study tells us that during a typical board meeting, the nonprofit’s CEO will talk about 90% percent of the allotted time.
9-0%.
Newsflash: When a nonprofit’s CEO talks this much during a board meeting, they literally suck the oxygen out of the room.
But what about the best of the best nonprofit CEOs? Well, they know better.
And they never make this mistake.
Instead, they flip the script.
Listen, most nonprofit CEOs make a huge mistake when trying to engage their boards during meetings.
What’s the mistake?
They start talking. Then they keep talking. And then they keep right on talking. And just when you thought they were done… you guessed it, they keep right on talking.
When it comes to board engagement, this is a big, big, BIG problem.
In fact, research study after research study tells us that during a typical board meeting, the nonprofit’s CEO will talk about 90% percent of the allotted time.
9-0%.
Newsflash: When a nonprofit’s CEO talks this much during a board meeting, they literally suck the oxygen out of the room.
But what about the best of the best nonprofit CEOs? Well, they know better.
And they never make this mistake.
Instead, they flip the script.
The Power of Asking Great Questions.
Plain and simple, when you ask your board to weigh-in on thoughtfully prepared questions, great things happen.
Here’s how it will play out.
First, your directors lean back.
They’ll put their pens down. They push back from the table. They might even take off their glasses.
Looking into the distance, they’ll start reflecting.
And then, after a few minutes of quiet introspection, something magical happens.
They lean in.
And they start talking. Then they keep talking. And they keep right on talking.
The conversation is thoughtful. The interaction is energizing. And the revelations? Extraordinary.
And the result is? You guessed it, ENGAGEMENT.
Ten Great Questions for your Board to Chew On.
Here are 10 excellent questions to get your board members talking. Be sure to include one in every meeting!
Great Question #1:
What does our nonprofit do better than anyone in our field?
Great Question #2:
If our NPO had unlimited resources, what is the one thing you as a board member would like to do for the population we serve?
Great Question #3:
If the Governor called tomorrow and invited our board to meet with him/her to seek our advice on an issue, what would we tell him we must change and why?
Great Question #4:
What media headline would we most like to see about our nonprofit?
Great Question #5:
If a donor came to us today with a $5 million gift (you pick the number) what would our first priority be? Our second? Our third?
Great Question #6:
If we could choose two additional board members, what skills would we want them to bring to the table?
Great Question #7:
If we could bring on an additional staff member, what kind of role would we want that person to play?
Great Question #8:
What would we love for people to say about us in the community?
Great Question #9:
What keeps you awake at night as a board member when thinking about our organization?
Great Question #10:
What best explains our nonprofit’s most significant successes?
In the Pursuit of Extraordinary Impact
Make no mistake.
When you ask your directors important and thoughtful questions, your nonprofit is headed for the next level.
Not only do thoughtful questions engage your board in a more collaborative dialogue, but they also serve to challenge deeply-ingrained assumptions, spark new ideas, and identify exciting opportunities for growth and innovation.
What’s more, when you challenge your board with great questions, your directors will have FUN during your meetings.
And that’s worth its weight in gold.