Getting the Band Back Together

Reunions come in many different forms and for many different purposes.  Class reunions.  Family reunions.  Team reunions.  Many nonprofits are preparing for their own type of reunion over the coming weeks and months -- a Board reunion.  

Over the past year or so, nonprofits have adapted to the challenges of the pandemic and most Boards have met virtually.  This conversion has brought benefits such as improved attendance, and also challenges such as lack of personal interaction among Board teams.  As Boards begin to return to some form of in-person gathering, here are some tips to ensure a smooth transition.

• Devote time to relationship building.

While virtual platforms offer outstanding features to ensure effective meetings, many nonprofit Boards have missed that element of social interaction, of getting to know one another as colleagues and teammates. Through departures from and additions to the Board, your nonprofit may have several Board members who have never actually met one another in person. Before diving back into the business of the Board, consider the ways in which you might offer Board members an opportunity to re-engage with one another and develop the types of relationships found in healthy teams.
Tip: Consider a Board retreat or intentionally create other opportunities for Board members to get to know one another.

• Assess the current strengths, challenges, and priorities of the Board.

We can’t forget that the past year has been highly disruptive for nonprofits and Boards -- personally, professionally, and organizationally. The health of your Board today may be very different (positively or negatively) than it was a year ago. Rather than assuming these changes will disappear upon a return to in-person meetings, consider pausing to assess that state of the Board.

Tip: Whether through a formal Board assessment or informal checkup, offer Board members the opportunity to reflect and hold a mirror up to the Board team -- what is going well, where are we struggling, and what are our most important priorities.  

• Develop new norms and expectations as a team.

Just as the strengths and challenges of the Board may have changed over the past year, the norms and expectations of the team may have evolved also. For example, many nonprofits are now evolving to a hybrid platform for Board meetings, where some members are comfortable being in-person and others more comfortable with joining remotely. Is your meeting frequency and schedule still optimal for the team or does it need to be altered? These are just a few of the questions your Board may want to address.
Tip: Board members tend to have greater ownership of norms and expectations they help create.

Know that the road is not always smooth. There may be bumps along the way. Like any team, Boards are challenging! Know that Nielsen Training & Consulting is your partner on this journey and we are here to offer any support or guidance you may need. We want to hear from you as you get the band back together!