I received a comment yesterday to an earlier entry about a nonprofit whose board co-chairs are both ending their terms and consequentially leaving a vacuum of leadership. The commenter offered some insights on this topic.
The commenter though began her thoughts with the statement that "although technically I have not been 'board material' according to what I always read" and I thought that statement was equally worthy of a continued conversation.
For sure, there is a lot of prescriptive and some descriptive literature and preaching (by people like me) about who is the "right" board member. My general position: that the individual be passionate about mission, results focused and willing to do what is needed. But, the literature doesn't generally say this. There are other expectations and needs and of course, a lot of this is often about the give-get equation.
That said, I'm proud to say that I've been alowed to be part of an affinity group of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management (this is where all the nonprofit capacity builders hang out to talk about their trade and change the world using their special gifts). The Affinity Group, thanks in great part to the leadership and sound thinking of Judy Freiwirth, has been focused on building a new way of thinking about nonprofit governance that very much does not limit itself to typecasting the characteristics of board members, beyond being mission driven and willing to be engaged.
You can learn more about Engagement Governance by reading this article by Judy. I believe that there are lots of details to be developed, but the roots of the concept will help lead nonprofit boards to a new and stronger place.