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Ever wonder why your board members aren’t “out there” fundraising for your organization? How enthusiastic are they about your organization and it’s mission?
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Keeping your board members engaged is essential for productive board meetings (and a productive nonprofit).
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5 Ways to Keep Board Members from Being Bored
In this post, we’ll explore five practical strategies to ensure your board members stay attentive, motivated, and invested in driving your nonprofit forward.
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1. Add Excitement to Your Board Meetings
Unfortunately, most board meetings are boring — but they don’t need to be. Start by throwing out Robert’s Rules and eliminate the boring reports. Shake things up!
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Have a meaningful discussion about programs and your organization’s mission.
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Invite a staff member or client to tell a story or share something about the program.
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Encourage board members to ask questions.
2. Fully Utilize the Talents and Connections of Your Board Members
Each member should serve on your board for a specific reason. How can their experience and expertise be tapped for your organization in a way that makes the board member feel good?
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You want to be sure to utilize and maximize each board member for their specific area of expertise and skill, as well as fully tapping into their networks.
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3. Have Specific Discussion Topics for Each Board Meeting
A meeting is boring if it’s simply filled with reports. Meetings are interesting when filled with rich discussion and each board members is encouraged to participate.
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Be sure to include an important discussion topic as part of each board meeting. Prepare members on the topic in advance in order to encourage a meaningful discussion. Ask board members for their input, opinions, and expertise. Even if you don’t make a decision, the discussion itself is important by making all voices heard.
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If someone isn’t speaking up or someone is dominating the conversations, say:
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I’d like to hear from everyone. Who haven’t we heard from yet?
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4. Include Specific Goals for Each Board Meeting
The purpose of your board meeting should never be just to “report out” to board members. Include specific goals.
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One of your goals will be to update the board members and provide information, but that’s only one piece of a meeting. Think of your board meetings as an outlet for having discussions, making decisions, and moving forward on specific projects — all of which are important meeting goals.
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5. Feature a Feel-Good Aspect About Your Mission
Include a feel-good element that reinforces your mission, or a “mission moment” (I believe Gail Perry coined the term, but I may have heard it elsewhere) as a part of each meeting.
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Each meeting should have a component where board members are reminded why they serve on your board. It could be a live client testimonial, a letter from a client, etc. Whatever story is shared should be so moving that board members are talking about it with one another, at work, and at home for a week or more!
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If we want to keep our board members energized and engaged with our organizations, we need to provide them with meaningful and fulfilling experiences. Happier, more enthusiastic board members are much more likely to be advocates in the community for your cause and your organization. Get them jazzed up so they spread the word!
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In-Person Versus Virtual Meetings
I’ve been to my share of boring meetings in-person. I’ve also attended incredible meetings with lively discussions on Zoom.
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The key to great meetings, regardless of the format is that everyone is included. At every meeting (with under 12 or so people), aim to have everyone speak at least three times — once at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end.
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