The Challenge:
Board members appear to be disconnected from the responsibilities of their positions on the board. They don’t read the emails or dig into agenda items in the way you expect them to given the importance of each meeting.
The Solution:
One of the best professional development experiences I’ve had as an executive director didn’t come from a workshop or conference; it came from sitting on the other side of the board table.
As executive directors, we spend a lot of time preparing board packets, writing reports, and helping our boards make good decisions. But until you’ve actually served on a volunteer board yourself, it’s hard to truly understand what that experience feels like.
I’ve learned this firsthand through my time on the board of my local youth softball association and the Lions Club. Those experiences completely changed the way I view my own board and the volunteers who serve on it.
When you’re the staff person, it’s easy to think, “Why didn’t the board read the materials?” or “Why do they seem hesitant about this decision?” But when you’re the volunteer—coming straight from work, managing family schedules, and trying to make sense of complex topics with limited background—it’s a different story. You realize just how much trust board members place in staff, and how important clear communication and empathy really are.
Serving on a board gives you perspective you can’t get from the staff seat alone. You see how intimidating financial reports can look without context, how essential good meeting facilitation is, and how rewarding it feels when staff genuinely value your input.
If you’ve never served on a volunteer board, I challenge you to do so asap. Pick something local and meaningful—maybe youth sports, a community service club, or a cause close to your heart. The insight you’ll gain will make you not just a more effective executive director, but also a better partner to the volunteers who make your mission possible.
