Clear up blurred lines of responsibility between nonprofit board and staff
If there was one universal nonprofit rule book that contained a set of rules defining the roles of the board and staff, we could avoid an incredible amount of miscommunication and angst over getting things done at the leadership level.
The fact is it doesn’t exist because things change, asserts author Jean Block. She adds that organizations and people evolve to. Block has written The Invisible Yellow Line to provide a way for board and staff leaders to communicate about their roles and “reduce the trap of assumptions and defensiveness.”
Is your organization thriving or diving?
Board leadership is an area that demands much of our attention and effort due to its critical role in helping an organization thrive or dive herunterladen. The Invisible Yellow Line author, Jean Block, has taken the literature on this topic one step further.
Block recognizes that a lack of clarity among roles between board and staff members is one of the most common reasons for conflict and inefficiency at the leadership level bilder downloaden iphone. Block provides leadership guidance in the areas of governance, management, operations and development as well as the key responsibilities where most gray areas (or what Block calls Invisible Yellow Lines) exist.
How to get started with using The Invisible Yellow Line
We asked Jean about how to get started with her model:
CP: The list of key responsibilities at the end of each core chapter (worksheet) is very helpful for generating conversation about the many Invisible Yellow Lines that may arise as board and staff work together herunterladen. How did you create these lists?
JB: Practice, practice, practice and on-the-job experience as both a board leader and staff leader. These are the kinds of things that apply to most nonprofits and create a stepping-off place for discussion as to how you might handle them in your particular organization herunterladen. I mean for these discussions to be ongoing because as organizations change and the people running them change, the roles might change.
CP: You state the obvious in the beginning of the book when you emphasize how communication is essential to manage the inevitable Invisible Yellow Lines. Yet knowing this fact still doesn’t always help boards and staffs work together. What’s the best way organizations can start and keep the communication going herunterladen ausschalten?
JB: Obviously, when things go wrong, fingers start to point and often there is no good way to get back on track without feeling defensive. I have seen organizations that have adopted the Yellow Line terminology as a way to communicate without pointing. In fact, using the Yellow Line can even be an icebreaker in tense situations pumuckl bilder kostenlos downloaden.
CP: Is there an area of leadership (governance, management, operations or development) where organizations should start defining responsibilities or do you recommend a different beginning for nonprofits looking to avoid conflict at the Invisible Yellow Line?
JB: I think the answer to this question has to be defined by the organization. For some, defining governance versus management responsibilities is difficult alexa echo app herunterladen. This is especially true in situations where the board has to transition from a “working board” status to a governing and policy-making board. For others, defining resource development is a critical issue. And let’s remember, these roles are likely to change with changes in staff and volunteer leadership as well as changes in an organization’s focus, maturity, etc herunterladen.
Get the best of both worlds—our free summary and 20% off the book
If you feel like your staff and board would benefit from greater clarity, consider downloading our free summary of the book. Inside the summary on the cover page, we’ve included a 20% discount promotion code for the book. Open up communication with your board and staff and prevent critical tasks from becoming enormous problems later eine webseite komplett herunterladen.
See also:
The Practitioner’s Guide to Governance as Leadership: Building High-Performing Nonprofit Boards
The Ultimate Board Member’s Book
Super Boards: How Inspired Governance Transforms Your Organization
Image credits: CharityChannel.com, JeanBlock
