At my recent Learning Event hosted by the University of Southern Mississippi and United Way of Southeast Mississippi many of the CEO and ED participants expressed a fear I commonly hear. "Why would my board members want to spend their precious time with me, if we are not talking about the mission?"
Board members, like everyone else, are influenced by the single most powerful human motivator --a relationship. They may have joined your organization because they were drawn to the mission, but the element that keeps them truly connected and working towards your growth is the connection with people like you.
As the CEO or ED, you hold a prestigious position that you can use to build relationships with people important to your work. Get to know your board members as a person first and they'll appreciate that you regard them as more than just an ATM.
An executive friend of mine told me that business leaders admire nonprofit executives because of the tremendous and lasting contributions they make to their communities. Remember that you do important work that people admire and they want to get to know you better.
So buy a board member a cup of coffee . . .
or just ask them, "Let's Have Lunch Together."
This is Marshall Howard reminding you . . . giving goes where the relationship flows.
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