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The Top Ten Ideasfor creating a successful and

effective relationship between your organization’s leader and

its Board of Trustees !

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“The stakes are enormous.”

Dr. Bill Mott

1. Nonprofit organizations are essential to our society. Their success and effectiveness determine how we live and the way we thrive.

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“If we are together nothing is impossible; if we are divided all will fail.”

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Sir Winston Churchill

2. The relationship between the CEO and the Governing Board (especially the Board Chair) is the single most important factor in determining the success of an organization.

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“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain--and most fools do!”

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Dale Carnegie

3.The Board Chair is responsible for preventing Board members from micro-managing the CEO and other members of the senior staff. This includes disciplining Board members to ensure their behavior is positive, and more importantly, respectful.

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“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”

Albert Einstein

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4. The Board has ONE employee. The organization’s CEO, Executive Director, or Head of School, depending on the title used by the organization.

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“All cruel people describe themselves as paragons of frankness.”

Tennessee Williams

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5. Even the best Board is subject to chaos and turmoil, brought on by the actions of just a few trustees. Those who come with an agenda are usually passionate about their own express cause. Not about the good of the organization.

“I aspire to inspire before I expire.”

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Anonymous

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6. These seven characteristics define the relationship between the CEO and the Governing Board:• Communication & Collaboration• Respect• Trust• Support• Shared Vision• Attitude• Leadership

“An army of lions commanded by a deer will never be an army of lions.”

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Napoleon

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7. The Board Chair’s five most important responsibilities

8. Encourage Board members to work together.9. Insist that interactions and relationships be

civil and positive, even when disagreements arise.

10.Position the CEO as a trustworthy, respectful leader.

11.Ensure Board members focus on core responsibilities: mission, strategy, policy, and planning.

12.Resist temptation to micro-manage any member of the senior staff or meddle in their business affairs.

“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”

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(From The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King)

Tim Robbins

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8. The Governance Promise is the best hope you have in order to build the kind of relationship that will make a difference to your organization.

“We have committed the Golden Rule to memory, let us now commit it to life.”

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Edwin Markham

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9. The Board Chair and trustees must avoid causing and creating extreme conflicts. Instead, they should always be prepared to find a common ground for the good of the organization. Teamwork is the most valuable characteristic of any successful Board.

“Nothing can stop someone with the right mental attitude From achieving their goal; nothing on earth can help someone with the wrong mental attitude.”

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Thomas Jefferson

10. Attitude is everything!If you don’t think so—wait until you encounter someone who has a very bad one…and then try to work together with that individual to achieve goals for the organization!

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Dr. William R. Mott is a consultant, speaker, teacher, and author. He has assisted hundreds of organizations; these include many independent schools, colleges, museums, libraries, churches, and non-profits with governance, fundraising, marketing, and management.

Dr. Mott is an expert in all aspects of Board governance issues and challenges.

For more information, just Click Here to visit his website For information about The Board Game, Click Here.

Thank You!

And finally, remember to always: