CentrePoint

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I just got back from having coffee with a dear friend, Andrea Silverstone, the Executive Director of Peer Support Services for Abused Women.  We were talking about the challenges facing the system that we call the Non-Profit and Charitable Sector.  One of the issues that we discussed was accountabilities (or lack thereof) between non-profit Boards and the Executive Directors. 

I sit on several boards providing services locally and internationally.  Over the years I have come to observe the following:

1. Good Executive Directors leave organizations when there is not a symbiotic relationship between the ED and Board
2. Bad Executive Directors stay when they cannot count on the Board for strategy development, committing to a vision, or when the Board does not hold them accountable for decisions and actions

So how do we solve this dilemma?  It boils down to expectations and communication.  Bill Ryan, one of the authors of Governance as Leadership, states that effective Boards are ones that not only ensure that the organization's mission is being followed, but that they understand how to articulate and direct strategies to fulfill the VISION of the organization.  In essence, good governance is not just about making sure that your by-laws are in order and you have an AGM, but also that you as a volunteer are strategically leading an organization.  "Organization[s] seek to align internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats, all in pursuit of organizational impact."

What has your experience been on non-profit boards?  What have you learned about leadership through your Board experience?  How are you aligning your organization to the internal and external pressures of society?

For those who are interested in becoming more effective Board Members, or for Executive Directors who are looking for how to work more effectively with your Board there are several Centres for Non-Profit Management around North America.  Here are a few for you to check out:

• CentrePoint Non-Profit Management - Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• CompassPoint Non-Profit Services - San Francisco, California, USA
• The Dallas Centre for Non-Profit Management - Dallas, Texas, US
• Altruvest Charitable Services - Toronto, Ontario, Canada