Ongoing Board Development

Your learning as a parent isn't over after you finish the pre-natal class. If you were becoming a lawyer, your legal knowledge would not be complete even once you pass the bar exam. Similarly, your training as a non-profit board member is not done after you have been through an orientation session, a course, or even after you have been on the board for a few years!

Continuous learning is essential to fulfilling any responsibility you take on in our complex, rapidly changing environment, including board membership. It provides you with the skills and knowledge you need to survive and keep pace with this environment. Ongoing development also keeps you challenged and motivated. It stimulates your creativity and builds your confidence and leadership abilities.

There are many ways your board can provide you and its other members with development opportunities. Here are just a few ideas:

• Board manuals
• Board retreats
• Workshops and in-service training
• A mentoring program, where more experienced board members support rookie members
• Board member evaluations
• Guest speakers, including staff, volunteers, service users or outside experts, presenting on areas of interest to the board
• Exposure to service delivery activities
• Assignments that offer variety and increased responsibility and challenge
• Articles, books, videos, internet resources
• Board member recognition, such as verbal acknowledgement, celebrations, awards, small gifts, thank you letters.
  

You are ultimately responsible for your own learning, so even if your board does not offer these development activities, create your own opportunities. Go on-line to find resources, share ideas and information with other board members, search libraries and bookstores for relevant materials, offer to take on a new board task, or talk to your local volunteer centre.

By pursuing ongoing board development you are growing as a board leader. Look now at developing your board leadership skills.

<<previous | next>>