A great board member is an active volunteer who understands their role as a spokesperson for the association, its members and its mission. They are not afraid to speak up and ask questions during board meetings, share their knowledge with the rest of the board and take on leadership roles in committees. They also seek out opportunities to improve their governance methods and gain new skills by attending leadership classes and workshops.
An excellent board member understands the time commitment required for board work. They plan ahead and make it a habit to attend all committee and board meetings. They are involved in committee assignments and provide support and feedback when required. They also look for ways of making the board more efficient, for example, using tools such as scheduling software and platforms that allow quick document sharing.
The ability to exercise sound judgment is the most crucial quality of a successful member of a board. They don’t allow small-scale issues to impede a meeting or impede the mission of the organization. They are able to look at the bigger picture and provide an insightful perspective from boardroomparty.com a different perspective that is essential for making the right decisions. They are aware of the business as a whole, which can impact on strategies, M&A, hiring and firing decisions and fundraising, legal issues and organizational design. A sound judgment requires a lot of experience, cultivated through experience in challenging situations, from learning from mistakes and a sense of intuition. Without it, board members can cause harm to your company.