“Picture the worst board members you’ve ever known, and remember – someone recruited them!”
Most of you recognize that as the tagline for our Board Recruitment workbook. Well it is also an invitation – ok, a request for your assistance.
I am finishing the magnum opus this week. Yes, really. And so I am hoping you will all do me a huge favor and help keep things rolling while I finish writing.
There are a couple of topics I’ve wanted to get started, and this is as good a time as any to ask for your help with them!
The first is Board Member Horror Stories.
As I was revising the workbook earlier this year (and we wonder why the magnum opus isn’t done yet – I actually rewrote the entire Board Recruitment book this year. What was I thinking???) – anyway, the rewrite gave me permission to spend hours in my Stories File – stories folks had sent me in response to previous editions of the book. And some of those are whoppers!
Here’s a note I received from a gal who was in the middle of a recruitment process with her own board.
Hildy:
I have no idea where to turn. When I tried to suggest that “passion for the mission” should be a criteria for selecting board members, our Board President said, “Passion isn’t a factor as to why I am here – I’m not even from this community, so it’s not as if I have a stake in any of what we do!”
Then again, this is a board president who opens each meeting by announcing the countdown of the months/days that she has left as Board president. Then she belittles the minutes, mocks the reports the board has been given to read, watches the clock…
Geez! But remember – someone recruited this gal! Someone thought she was a “find”! Someone thought asking her onto the board – and making her the president – was a good idea!!!
Here’s another one – this one actually made it into the new edition of the book. It was sent in response to my quoting a Wall Street Journal survey from years ago that asked, “If your board were abducted by aliens, would anyone notice they were gone? “
Hildy:
Been reading your book, and I must say – a heart beat and/or breathing are the only criteria we currently have.
Sleeping at meetings is approved, as is never showing up. This guarantees no micro-management of the daily operation.
Lastly, I never thought about board members being abducted, but that would be a great way to raise revenues. We sure wouldn’t take them back for free…
So how about it – while I’m off finishing up the book to end all books, will you guys take the wheel for a bit? Picture the worst board members you’ve ever seen, the ones that would go into the “I Swear I’m Not Making This Up” file. And let’s share!
And to sweeten the pot, for everyone who sends a great story, I’ll send you a signed copy of Board Recruitment & Orientation. So come on – dish it up!
