Board Action Plans That Actualize

J. MacGuire in clearly one of the finest soliloquies of our time.

That blur that just went by was January. Does 2024 feel any different than 2023 for your #BoardGoals? Even a hint? If the energy just isn't there, you need a fresh approach to summon it -- before you blink and it's August.

The almost universal commentary that I hear about my clients' boards sounds like: "Honestly, it's stuck in 2nd gear and I don't know what we need to get us really moving. It's frustrating."

The answer isn't another group strategy you announce at a meeting and nearly everyone lets slide through spring. It's individual-level planning and accountability. Like the pleas of Jerry MacGuire, help them help you.

Did you know that individual Board member action plans are a thing? Here's the cheat code:

1. You share a 3-page checklist of gloriously useful Board-level tasks and ideas with each member -- which you can customize for your org. Available on this site for the price of a lunch out.
2. They privately mull over their capacity, time, and highest needs of your nonprofit looking an entire 12 months ahead.
3. They decide what they can do and when, document it in their plan, and share it with you.
4. Voila. Clarity for all parties.

Meet with those who want to talk things over. Welcome their new ideas and margin notes. These are eminently fruitful conversations in my experience. And because each Board member planned specific, timed actions themselves -- these things tend to get DONE!

Then make it an annual ritual.

---