Congratulations! Being elected Board President is a vote of confidence. Your friends may commiserate, but they don’t realize that you have superpowers.
With you at the helm, you make it possible to build the future your board and staff have envisioned.
It will take time, of course.
- You will partner with your CEO in executing that vision.
- You will mentor board members as they develop their roles and accomplish them.
- You will be cheerleading.
- You will be checking in with the ‘wisdom in the room.’
You will make it possible for each member of your board to be part of that future.
In short, this organization is now one of the top four priorities in your life, along with your family, your job and possibly your house of worship.
Before your first board meeting as President, take some time to prepare.
What do you know about the people around the table? What do they know about each other? What do they know about you?
What do you want your working relationship to be, with the CEO? With the board?
How do you want to work together?
Google recently discovered that when individuals in groups get to know each other as people, those groups are more productive. So consider, what does it make possible when each board member feels a real part of the group? What can you do to create that camaraderie?
The mechanics of being board president may be clear: preside at meetings; sign contracts; represent the organization in community meetings.
But developing a board that builds a future together – that’s your superpower.
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