Termites Destroying Your Board?
Problem: 
Non-Profit Boards are filled with well-meaning volunteer leaders, whose various reasons for joining are unfortunately, more competing and less collaborative than everyone may realize.
Far too many Boards fail to invest in the simple, yet proven and powerful strategies that the most successful and thriving Non-Profit Boards live by every day.
Therefore, meetings are dysfunctional, true consensus decisions are almost impossible to achieve, volunteerism and Board involvement declines and staying focused on the most important mission and results of the Non-Profit becomes exceedingly difficult and exhausting.
Good News: 
It doesn’t have to be this way. There are simple, proven powerful strategies, when used effectively and consistently, which eradicate much of the dysfunction, build trust amongst the Board Leaders and enable Leaders to make better decisions, save time and achieve better results, with less stress and drama.
Question 1: Steven, as a change management consultant, and after 20 years of serving on Boards and helping Non-Profit Boards become more effective, what do you see as the overarching challenge when Board Leaders are struggling?
Fail to Live in Community with Authenticity, Transparency, Humility and Collaboration
Definition of Success for the Organization is Not Crystal Clear
The Board Leaders Do Not Adequately Understand the “Why” Behind Each Board Leader’s Reason for Joining and Staying Involved
Question 2: With the long list of challenges that any Board Leadership can struggle with, are there patterns or distinctions that stand out for you?
Most are People Issues—Communication and Interpersonal Relations, especially when the Board Chair or President lacks adequate leadership skills to address these people issues
Culturally, not just in the US, we suffer far too much Political Correctness and our cultural norm of avoiding conflict and difficult conversations makes it all the harder for people to wiggle their spinal cords and practice Managerial Courage
Organizationally, meetings are run poorly, authority and decision making is not clear, and standards in a variety of ways are simply lacking or non-existent
Question 3: What are some examples of a successful use of Standards in Board Leadership?
Definition of Success for Organization and Board Leadership
Behavior Standards are Clear and Consequences for Failing to Adhere to Them are Real and Crystal Clear—No Triangulation, Carry Your Weight, Humility, Managerial Courage, Failing Forward, Mission First
When Dealing with Me—Strengths; Behavioral Styles
Question 4: Thinking of the Cultural Challenges you mentioned earlier, what are some proven strategies that you have seen work within Board Leadership and what improvements are made because of them?
Mad, Glad, Sad/Stop, Start, Continue
If You Could Change Any One Thing Immediately About __________________, With No Limit on Resources, What Would You Change?
Understanding Behavioral Styles  (DiSC, Platinum Rule, True Colors, Myers-Briggs, etc.)
Everyone understands what each other’s greatest needs are and what drives their thinking and thus their behaviors
Difficult Conversations are far more easily surfaced because everyone understands the importance of honoring others’ behavioral style
Question 5: What are some of your best strategies for Board Leaders running better meetings and making better decisions?
Understanding Strengths  (Gallup and Strengthsscope)
Meetings—Discovery, Distribution and Decisions; AHA Sheet; 2 Commitments
Saying No—Standing up and “Saying No” to things that we don’t need to be doing right now, is oftentimes even more powerful than “Saying Yes” to doing the right things
Urgency—What happens if we do nothing and keep the status quo?  What are the benefits or quick wins when we address this issue and no longer settle for status quo?
Finding, Harvesting and Celebrating Quick Wins Along with Establishing and Fully Understanding the URGENCY of the Need for Cha