Avoid the “Friend of a Friend of Cousin Eddie Syndrome”
“The problem is, most board cultures are developed by default, not by design,” writes Jim Brown in The Imperfect Board Member.
The best boards are intentional—not haphazard or random—about suggesting board prospects who meet the board-approved criteria. A friend of a friend of your Cousin Eddie might/perhaps/someday become an effective board member—but he or she must be evaluated against objective criteria. And prayer must precede appointment!
TOOL #2: BOARD NOMINEE SUGGESTION FORM
Recommend People for Your Prospect Pipeline Who Meet the “6 D’s Criteria”
Many boards leverage the easy-to-use “Board Nominee Suggestion Form” included in ECFA Tools and Templates for Effective Board Governance. Tools 1, 2, and 3 are the lead-off hitters in “Part 1: Selecting and Training Excellent Board Members.” The book gives you full access to all 22 tools and templates—formatted as Word documents so you can customize the tools for your board’s unique uses.
This suggestion form will optimize two critical governance values for your board:
• First, the suggestion form will help educate board members to suggest only prospects that meet the board-approved criteria. This will eliminate the “Friend of a Friend of Cousin Eddie Syndrome” and save you hours and hours of time (and expensive steak dinners!).
• Second, because board members are considering at least six criteria (see the “6 D’s” in the book), important qualities of God-honoring lifestyle and character will be considered early on in the process.
Here are two of the “6 D’s” to consider:
“Discerning Decision-Maker: Prior experience in making wise policy, financial, strategy, and personnel decisions. (Is this person competent in both hiring and firing decisions?)”
“Doer: Walks the Talk! Reference checks affirm a God-honoring lifestyle and character. Humble, prayerful, high integrity in all relationships. Affirms our statement of faith.”
The other four “D’s” include: Demonstrated Passion, Documented Team Player, Diligent and Faithful Participant, and Donor.
When you customize “Tool #2: Board Nominee Suggestion Form” for your board, you’ll realize why this book is subtitled, “Time-Saving Solutions for Your Board.” Follow the eight steps in this tool to inspire your board to pray and discern who—in their networks—might be possible prospects for board service.
Click on the title to order from Amazon: ECFA Tools and Templates for Effective Board Governance: Time-Saving Solutions for Your Board, by Dan Busby and John Pearson.
BOARD DISCUSSION: In Matthew 6:21, Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Many boards follow the “6 D’s” criteria, including the requirement that a board prospect already be a generous giver. (See the definition of a “generous giver” on page 19 of the book. Board members at all income levels can be generous.) What’s our board policy on this?
MORE RESOURCES: Read Terry Stokesbary’s guest blog on “Date Board Prospects Before You Propose Marriage,” one of 40 color commentaries from the book, Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom. Click here.
Don’t Propose Marriage on Your First Date!
Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, once compared businesses to nonprofits with this memorable poke-in-the-ribs to both:
“Although I don’t know a single for-profit business that is well managed as a few of the nonprofits, the great majority of the nonprofits can be graded a ‘C’ at best. Not for lack of effort; most of them work very hard. But for lack of focus, and for lack of tool competence.”
So with that inspiration, Dan Busby, president of ECFA, and I have co-authored a hot-off-the press resource, ECFA Tools and Templates for Effective Board Governance: Time-Saving Solutions for Your Board. Jam-packed with 22 tools, the 272-page book includes access to downloadable Word documents that can be customized for any board.
The tools are organized around six themes:
• Selecting and Training Excellent Board Members
• Board Assessments
• Reporting to the Board
• Taking Time for Strategic Planning
• Policies and Board Responsibilities
• Ideas for Better Board Governance
Peter Drucker also wrote, “At least once every five years, every form should be put on trial for its life.” So…if it’s been five years (or 10 or 20 years) since you’ve updated your boardroom tools, this book will be a lifesaver for you. I’m featuring these tools in forthcoming blogs, starting with—of course—the first one:
TOOL #1: THE PATHWAY TO THE BOARD - Six Steps on the Pathway to Board Service
Here’s a very practical tool for tracking possible board nominees in your “Prospect Pipeline.” The big idea: “Date” board prospects before proposing “marriage” (board service).
The book reminds us, “Thoughtful adults don’t propose marriage on the first date. Effective boards don’t propose board service to prospects they don’t know well. Think of this as a 36-month dating experience. But don’t mention marriage (board service) up front.”
Think of board recruitment in four phases: cultivation, recruitment, orientation, and engagement. “The Pathway to the Board” tool lists six critical steps:
• Step 1: Suggest
• Step 2: Review
• Step 3: Inquire
• Step 4: Apply
• Step 5: Orientation
• Step 6: Engage
I’ll discuss “Tool #2: The Board Nominee Suggestion Form” in the next blog—but the pathway to the board starts with identifying board-approved criteria (The 6 D’s)—listed in both Tool #1 and Tool #2.
Is your board member prospect criteria in writing? Tool #1 will help.
When your board purchases ECFA Tools and Templates for Effective Board Governance, you’ll have full access to the 22 tools and templates—formatted as Word documents so you can customize the tools for your board’s unique uses.
When you use the right tool at the right time—you’ll move faster and deeper toward your board’s sacred calling of God-honoring governance. And you’ll eliminate those “Oops!” blunders so you don’t propose marriage on the first date.
Visit ECFA Press (or Amazon) and order ECFA Tools and Templates for Effective Board Governance: Time-Saving Solutions for Your Board, by Dan Busby and John Pearson.
BOARD DISCUSSION: R. Buckminster Fuller said, “If you want to teach people a new way of thinking, don’t bother to teach them. Instead, give them a tool, the use of which will lead to new ways of thinking.” What tool inspired you to think a new way?
MORE RESOURCES: Read Bruce Johnson’s guest blog on “If You Need a Board Member, Recruit a Board Member,” one of 40 color commentaries from the book, Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom. Click here.
