There’s plenty of buzz and concern in the nonprofit world about the desire to improve effective board leadership and governance. I’ve gotten a first-hand look at this issue during recent trainings and retreats I’ve provided to national nonprofit groups.   

What kind of shape is your organization and board in?

Here are 10 ways to determine if you’re on the right track with your board.

Do you: 

1.     Engage the board as leaders and partners in your vision and goal setting, encourage them to ask questions and encourage their ideas.

2.      Examine ways to improve board governance.

3.      Avoid the “warm body theory” of board recruitment. Develop a list of 10 key board prospects in the pipeline at all times.

4.      Develop a reappointment process with clearly identified responsibilities for each board member PRIOR to approving any new terms.

5.      Fire difficult board members when all else fails.

6.      Select chair elect at time of appointing board chair.

7.      Remove “inner and outer” boards by reducing use of Executive Committee meetings.

8.      Involve the entire board in CEO evaluation and deal honestly with performance issues.

9.      Make certain that board meetings are of appropriate time. Respect each other’s time.

10.  Ensure that a comprehensive board performance assessment is conducted at least every two or three years. Good boards assess their CEO, great boards assess themselves.

If this is your dream list and you're not currently carrying out these practices, it’s important to measure the effect it’s having on your team, fundraising, mission, and daily work.

With 2011 under way, you may need to take a long hard look at your board and decide to make some changes.