{"id":597000,"date":"2024-08-28T08:57:51","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T12:57:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joangarry.com\/?p=597000"},"modified":"2024-08-30T14:44:52","modified_gmt":"2024-08-30T18:44:52","slug":"seat-at-the-table","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joangarry.com\/seat-at-the-table\/","title":{"rendered":"A Seat at the Table: Why (Some) Staff Should Be Present At Board Meetings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A coaching client asked me to present at their board meeting some time ago. It\u2019s not something I do very often and it had been a while. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now many of you know I believe in the importance of building a real partnership<\/a> between board and staff that fosters a thriving and sustainable nonprofit. I think many of you agree with this and work hard to bring that partnership to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes we don\u2019t realize how we may be thwarting those efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the presentation in hand, I walk into the boardroom. It\u2019s a lovely space with a big conference table with room for 24 folks. The board of 16 was settling in along with the Executive Director that left 7 empty seats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Against the back wall around the table were chairs. Staff members attending the meeting walked in looking indecisive and a bit uncomfortable. With no guidance from the Executive Director who was schmoozing with board members, the 5 staff members passed by the open seats at the table and made their way to the back wall of chairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The kids\u2019 table. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of us remember the kids\u2019 table well. Family gatherings with a dining table too small for everyone. Decisions were made about who sat where. No grownup was ever assigned to the small card table with the folding chairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right before my eyes, I saw the senior staff of a good-sized, mature nonprofit sitting at the kids\u2019 table. I talked to staff during a break and debriefed with the Executive Director later. Staff members simply didn\u2019t know their place. Literally and figuratively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I knew this was not an anomaly. In fact, it is an excellent example of the organization\u2019s copilots \u2013 the Executive director and Board Chair \u2013 falling down on the job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s time for an adjustment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THREE STEPS TO AVOID \u201cKIDS\u2019 TABLE SYNDROME\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. DESIGN THE BOARD MEETING WITH YOUR CO-PILOT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, make intentional decisions about which staff should attend and the expectations that you have for each staff you plan to invite. Seems easy enough, right? Doesn\u2019t happen often enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. COMMUNICATE CLEARLY WITH KEY STAFF BEFORE THE MEETING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Executive Director needs to be clear with the staff about who\u2019s attending and why. This helps those not invited to understand without feeling slighted. For those attending, they will feel secure knowing their role. Key staff members have these questions whether they ask them or not. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offering this clarity is the first step in creating a sense of belonging for staff at board meetings. So you should provide clarity about them up front:<\/p>\n\n\n\n