In the inaugural episode of Board Dynamics, Dorrit delves into the intricate workings of nonprofit boards, focusing on the dynamics that influence their effectiveness. Lesley, an experienced board member and consultant, shares insights from her decade-long involvement with various boards, highlighting a specific case involving a large nonprofit organisation with 18 members and a significant budget. As they navigate the complexities of board dynamics, Dorrit and Lesley emphasise the need for self-awareness, effective communication, and integrating best governance practices to enhance organisational effectiveness.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Understanding Board Dynamics: Effective board governance goes beyond financials and strategy; it involves understanding the interpersonal dynamics and relationships among board members, which can significantly impact decision-making and organisational effectiveness.

• Diversity and Representation: While the board had a majority of female members, it lacked diversity in other aspects, such as ethnicity and cultural representation.

• Governance Challenges: Many board members lacked a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities, leading to confusion about governance practices.

• Resistance to Change: Change within the board was met with resistance, particularly from the executive committee, which was comfortable with existing power dynamics.

• Importance of Evaluation and Self-Awareness: Regular board evaluations should include discussions about underlying psychological dynamics and interpersonal relationships.

BEST MOMENTS

"What's really interesting about the work that we're doing... is that you're talking really about how boards work."

"There was a lot of friction, especially from the executive committee... who were very happy with the power dynamics that had been established."

"The governance structure of the organization and the structure of the board hadn't changed in decades."

"The board to their credit brought in experts to talk about bias and to talk about racism and stigma."

"The board evaluation is a critical tool, but it needs to be revisited."

OUR LINKS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorrit-kromann-29b4041/

https://kromanns.com/en/

HOST BIO

Dorrit Kromann uses her competent network to provide solutions to real problems in boards. Dorrit is experienced in organisational development, going from turnarounds in hospitals to the growth of IT start-ups. From the board experience, Dorrit has used the psychodynamic organisational psychology to onboard, understand and solve any board challenge, going from how to recruit new members to business challenges to conflicts of interest.

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

Have you ever been stuck in a challenge in a board meeting? Have you ever felt unheard in a board meeting? Have you ever thought that the business and strategy go in the wrong direction? Have you ever had a suspicion that something was wrong in the company?

Board Dynamics podcast will take you through some cases showing these challenges, analyse the cases and tell you what to do in such situations.