Twelve Reasons Why Board Development Can Fail Print
  1. Life on the edge – The board recruits new members 30 days before the annual meeting (crash recruiting).
  2. Cloning 101 – Current board members recruit new members who are simply themselves.
  3. No Sweat – The board has two meetings per year with no other required commitments.
  4. Body Count – Anyone who can sit up and take liquids will do.
  5. Wing and a Prayer – Board doesn’t have a nominations committee.
  6. Cut to the Chase – The board encourages everyone to turn in six names by Tuesday.
  7. Tell Ya Later – The board leaves new candidates in the dark about their role.
  8. Beat to the Punch – Your board loses out to organizations who do it right.
  9. Future Vision – Board members stick to their mission – “We’ll keep doing it like always.”
  10. Yer on Yer Own – Orientation and training? New members will figure it out.
  11. Why Worry? – Board members operate with the belief that “the cause is noble, people will seek us out.”
  12. Comatose – Where did all those empty seats come from?

Adapted from: Wright, G. B. Beyond Nominating. C3 Publications: Silver Spring, MD, 1996