Fix board infighting before it bites you

• Published date: 01 May 2018
• Date: 01 May 2018
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/ban.30680

2 Board & Administrator

DOI 10.1002/ban © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company • All rights reserved

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From The Board Doctor

Fix board inghting before it bites you

The CEO can’t afford to let

board bickering go unchecked.

That’s because at some point board

members are likely to start point-

ing their fingers at you instead of a

colleague. Here’s what you can do

about it:

1. Ask the board to agree to dis-

cuss differences in private. Obtain

an agreement among the full board

to air disagreements behind closed

doors.

The agreement should be a

written document, because it

gives the administrator a tool

to fall back on. Board members

who bicker and fight will forget

any pledge very quickly, but if

you have documentation to show

them, they may be inclined to

back off.

2. Ease postmeeting hard

feelings. Board members need a

chance to vent after board meet-

ings. Invite the board to join you

and your top staff for a postmeeting

cup of coffee.

At these debriefings, topics of

conversation can run to family, kids

and local gossip. These venting ses-

sions can help ease any lingering

hard feelings.

3. Boost interboard respect.

When board members have respect

for one another, it pays dividends

in the boardroom. Use strategies

like these to encourage respect on

the team:

• Remind the board that deci-

sions are made by the governing

body. Also remind board members

that you are always available to

discuss issues one-on-one.

• Practice personal decorum at

board meetings. Teach your staff

to do the same. Model respect to-

ward all.

• Protect board members from

being embarrassed. Do this by

making sure board members have

the same information from you

and practicing “no surprises.”

Sincerely,

Jeff Stratton, Editor

515.963.7972;

jeff_stratton@msn.com ■

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