The symptoms, and solutions, to low board engagement.

• Position: BOARD DYNAMICS - Editorial

Ed. Note: "When a board suffers from low engagement, it puts the entire organization in jeopardy," writes Adam Roth, founder and CEO of StreamLink Software, in the introduction to the firm's 2014 Board Engagement Report. The report frames the issues nonprofit organizations and their board leaders must face to improve board engagement and fully leverage the board's potential. Following is an excerpt.

What are the symptoms of low board engagement?

* Absenteeism. If a particular board member is frequently missing board and committee meetings, it may be a sign that he or she is becoming less engaged. Low meeting attendance, poor punctuality and absenteeism are signs that overall board engagement is dropping. (Tip: Not tracking member attendance? Start maintaining records of RSVP and attendance to monitor board member performance.)

* High turnover. Frequent board member turnover destabilizes your board, making it difficult to maintain consistency in strategic vision, organizational leadership, and volunteer and donor bases. Be vigilant in the recruitment and vetting process, and make sure board member expectations are clear before candidates make a commitment.

* Low productivity. One of the more subtle symptoms, low productivity can be symptomatic of low engagement and board management inefficiencies. Common red flags are frequently missed deadlines, never-ending projects, diminished fundraising success, and dwindling volunteer and donor bases.

It's clear that there remains room for improvement in board potential, the board's influence and organizational future-proofing. Fortunately, there are steps nonprofit and board leaders can take, starting today, to improve board management and member engagement.

Engaged, effective boards have the following characteristics in common:

* Communication is bi-directional. Create feedback loops so members feel heard and engagement can be gauged. Conduct biannual self-assessments to...