Transition Tips for Chief Executives and Boards of Directors

The strength of a nonprofit is the unique alliance between boards and executives.

I’d love for the board of directors to be my close friends. Who wouldn’t? They are thoughtful, funny, interesting people. Yet in my role, that won’t happen. I am a nonprofit CEO, and these good people are our board of directors—they are not my board of directors.

I share them with our mission, team, community, and donors. Together we have responsibilities that are greater than expanding our circle of friends. But our fulfilling working relationship isn’t by chance—we work at it.

While it’s vital to get the board-chief executive relationships right for day-to-day operations, it’s also a powerful tool for another hot topic in nonprofit management: succession planning for the chief executive.

I believe that the stronger the relationship between the board and chief executive, the better they work together for a planned transition. Some of us were taught that it’s best to get out of the way and let the board do their work to find a replacement, especially for long-term, successful leaders or founders.

I disagree. Even that term, replacement, leads to a flawed approach. We cannot replace people. No one will be the same.

Change is inevitable (and good!)

Leaders are different from one another; organizations are fluid. Both the board and the departing executive need to be open to the possibilities that diverse new leaders offer. By building on the principles of good governance that guided this relationship throughout the years, they can honestly assess what’s next.

When the exiting leader steps aside and respects the board’s autonomy to make the final decision, there will be confidence and excitement about the next chapter.

What can happen when the CEO is not involved in the transition?

When I left a nonprofit that I had successfully led for over 10 years, I subscribed to the get-out-of-the-way principle. Despite my tenure with the organization, we all fell into the misguided notion that I should not participate in the transition. However, four years later, after repeated unsuccessful hires, I got involved.

The organization I loved was struggling mightily with its leadership. Fortunately, they had a team of dedicated, boots-on-the-ground staff members keeping programs focused. Yet, they were weary. They needed a leader. The board was dispirited. Something had to change.

Focus on governance, self-awareness, cultural leadership, and stability

The first thing I focused on when joining the search committee was governance. The committee needs to understand the respective roles of the chief executive and board before the first candidate walks in the door.

The second element we brought into our review process was to explore self-awareness of competency, including humility about what someone doesn’t know.  A candidate who knows what they do not know is far more likely to succeed than one oblivious to the learning curve ahead. Someone who is self-aware will be amenable to supervision and mentoring.

Once we were satisfied a candidate could learn programmatic/technical skills, our third focus was on leadership qualities and culture alignment. That meant ascertaining the nimbleness of a leader, their authenticity in building and sustaining relationships, their appetite for risk, and conversely their discipline to stay the course when needed. Unlike the technical skills that can be learned, these traits are part of a candidate at their core.

Finally, we tied the analysis together by assessing a candidate’s rock-steadiness. We asked the tough questions: Do they have their two feet firmly planted on the ground? Can they handle the operational challenges? Can they balance the chef, cook, and bottle-washer roles of a chief executive?

Sometimes things don’t go as planned.

The organization was successful with the first hire, bringing on a wonderful director who had a steady hand at the helm and a good heart to balance it out. Due to family illness, she had to step down sooner than expected.

So, the organization had to go back to the drawing board. The search committee followed the same list of priorities. They found another successor who checked all the boxes and then some.

What happens when things start to fall apart?

As we learned in the pandemic of 2020, unimaginable societal suffering and the resulting ever-changing operational demands of a nonprofit call for ‘all hands-on deck,’ yet with heightened sensitivity to unique roles of board and chief executive.

That’s when the value of good governance, seeking and offering guidance, and exceptional communication cannot be underestimated. The reliance on those principles brings about confident, healthy, and very gratifying partnerships.

Building a strong board takes work and resources.

I’ve found that BoardSource has great tools for a prospective, new, or seasoned board director and chief executives. Using these tools keeps my organization focused from the start. They set the stage for well-informed directors and a shared language between the chief executive and board directors.

You’ll find a few of my favorites below.

Board recruitment:

• Key Questions to Ask Before Joining a Nonprofit Board © 2016 BOARDSOURCE.ORG

Board orientation:

• Twelve Principles of Governance that Power Exceptional Boards
• The Board Chair and Chief Executive Partnership – © 2017 BOARDSOURCE.ORG

Finally, there is a Ted Talk that I show all new directors during orientation: Modern nonprofit board governance — passion is not enough! | Chris Grundner | TEDxWilmington

Remember—create partnerships for smooth transitions.

Making fundamental governance principles the shared context with which to guide boards and chief executives creates partnerships—from day-to-day operations and through transitions. Intentionally applying these principles gives each the right tools with which to face the successes or challenges or changes.

The strength of a nonprofit organization is this unique, educated alliance. It is a commitment infused with wisdom, trust, and grace. And trust me, that works.

In case you missed it…

Board Assessments with Sample Management Questions

You might also like:

• Insider Newsletters: An Easy Way to Keep Your Board in the Loop and Engaged
• Board Horror Stories: How to Reduce Board Resignations
• Rebuilding Nonprofit Boards: When a New Board Can Be a Fresh Start
• Five Lessons for Creating an Effective (and Accountable) Nonprofit Board
• A Cautionary Tale: Overcoming Governance Nightmares in Nonprofit Organizations

 

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