Beyond the Boardroom

“What the board members do outside the boardroom is even more important than what they do in the boardroom” a seasoned board member recently commented to me. There is a lot of truth in this statement. It is only during a board meeting that board members have authority to make decisions for the organization, but being equipped to make quality decisions and presenting a positive leadership image for the organization take lots of time beyond board meetings.

The benefit of board meetings is for diverse board members to dialogue on key organizational issues so synergetic decisions can be made by engaging diverse wisdom. To maximize effective discussion during time-limited board meetings it is important for board members to receive and review background information on each agenda item before the meeting. The board is responsible to make decisions that position the organization to be effective in its environment; this requires that board members stay on top of trends in the industry and in society at large, as well as being current on issues within the organization. To be equipped to make quality decisions, many top notch board members spend more time preparing for board meetings than attending them.

Board members are prominent leaders in an organization. How they support the organization reflects on the organization itself. When non-profit board members personally donate to the organization it raises the worthiness of the cause in the public eye. When for-profit board members own shares in the company, the public’s perception of it’s long-term profitability is bolstered. When board members attend the organization’s fund-raising events and when they positively mention the organizations whose boards they serve on at social and business events, they raise awareness of the organizations. The public’s increased knowledge enhances the credibility of the organizations.

Preparing for effective decision making, donating money and effort, and enhancing the organization’s image are key responsibilities of board members that require significant time commitment beyond board meetings. The board members’ job truly does go far beyond the boardroom.

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