If you have served on a board, you know that every board member is unique, and if you have served on a few boards, like I have, you also know that no two boards are alike. You learn a great deal about others serving on a board together, and each board has its own personality, politics, and way of doing things.
If you want to enjoy your time on the board, make a real impact, and still have friends at the end of your term, think about how you can be not just a regular board member, but what I call a rockstar board member.
These rock stars are the individuals who seem to have it all: the love of the staff, respect of other board members and they leave every organization stronger than they found it.
Here’s how you can stand out, in a good way, and be the board member every organization wants.
Be very, very quiet – at first
We have all seen the new member who comes in with a burst of energy and ideas, ready to overhaul everything. They think they know better and wonder why the organization has not already done this or that. As your mom might say, no one likes a know-it-all.
Instead of coming in hot, I suggest you take some time to watch and listen. I usually stay quiet during the first three months, so some may wonder if I am mute, or they will look around thinking, ‘Who brought this dud on board?’ But there’s a reason. Every board has a distinctive history and its own approach to getting things done. You will learn far more by observing and listening than by talking.
I always assume that the people who served before me were probably quite intelligent. Most were professionals with decades of experience on nonprofit boards. So, whenever someone in a meeting states with certainty that something should be changed, I am likely to blurt out, “Why did they do it that way?” Usually, there was a good reason. We just forgot.
Sometimes, why they did things can be found in the bylaws or the board minutes. At other times, a longtime board member may recall what happened and why. This is one of the reasons to dig deep into the financials, the 990 tax filings, and the bylaws.
If you want to be a rockstar board member, don’t just glance at those documents; take the time to understand the history behind them. Put everything in a binder or save it on your iPad. That way, when someone inevitably asks, “Do we need a two-thirds vote for that?” you’ll have the answer in front of you while everyone else is trying to remember. They might keep you on the board just for your binder.
Support people
A run-of-the-mill board member might say, “I’m here to support the organization,” and that’s fine, but it’s vague. A rockstar board member asks, ‘Who am I here to support?’
Everyone should be supporting the executive director. Invite them to lunch and ask about their current projects, the challenges they’re facing, and how you can assist them. Even if you’ve already had a tour of the facility, do it again with them. Take the time to get to know the staff and treat them with kindness and respect. Bring snacks. You’ll learn a lot more when you see what works and what needs improvement through their eyes. Most people do not give them enough attention.
I saw my role on a university dean’s board as one of trying to improve the lives of students. Instead of supporting the dean, I would question him at every opportunity. He would literally run away when he saw me at events. It was not helpful.
If you’re on a committee, support your committee chair. If you’re an officer, help the person ahead of you. My favorite board position was serving as vice president to an organized and competent president. In fact, we had a whole line of, not surprisingly, capable female presidents. I saw my job as making the president look good, just as all those before me had done.
Respect the time of others
Some board members believe they are being helpful by offering staff “advice” on new initiatives they should undertake. Too often, these suggestions are made without any plan or support, resulting in additional work and frustration for employees and volunteers who are already overextended.
A rockstar board member knows that if they are proposing a new project, they should be the one to lead it and be responsible for finding the people and resources to make it happen. If you’re not willing to do that, it’s probably not the time to bring it up.
Most of us have barely survived board meetings that dragged on forever, seemingly accomplishing nothing. A regular board member might let the discussion meander or enjoy sharing their vast experiences. I get the urge to run when that happens. So, even if you’re not leading the meeting, others will see you as a rockstar if you speak up to keep things moving. Stay on the agenda, keep Roberts’ Rules of Order handy in your binder or iPad, and end on time.
Those who want to socialize can stay late, but the board meeting itself is a business meeting. People are taking time out of their lives to be there—respect their time by being efficient and focused.
Lead with new ideas
If you’ve accepted a position as an officer or committee chair, congratulations. That means others trust you to help guide the organization.
A rockstar finance committee chair goes a step further than reviewing financials and meeting with advisors and auditors, and uses tools like Charity Navigator or Candid to evaluate how the organization is performing. How much is being spent on programs? What would a donor see if they looked the organization up online?
If you are heading up the fundraising committee, you will help organize events and assist with campaigns, but a rockstar fundraiser might research how AI tools can identify prospective donors based on giving patterns or suggest ways to teach donors about charitable gift planning.
Help grow the board
It is normal for board members to suggest a friend when the nominating committee comes around. But a rockstar board member might recommend the formation of an advisory board.
An advisory board or committee is a group of community leaders, professionals, or former board members who don’t have formal responsibilities but still want to be involved. These advisory groups can meet quarterly or even once or twice a year for lunch, as they listen to staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries discuss the programs and achievements. It provides community leaders with an opportunity to connect to the mission without the time commitment of board service, often leading to future donations or board recruitment.
A board is only as good as its members
Comedian and activist Lily Tomlin once said, “I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.” Rockstar board members support those doing the work, bringing in tools, ideas, and people to strengthen and grow the organizations they serve. Isn’t that the point?
Michelle C. Herting is a CPA, accredited in business valuations, and an accredited estate planner specializing in succession planning and estate, gift, and trust taxes.
