How does your board keep itself strong and dynamic?  How does it deal with difficult challenges? 

A team is only as strong as its members, yet boards often lose sight of the needs of individual board volunteers.  Building a team is also a critical activity.  However, in a quest to plan, fund raise, organize and meet the expectations of the community, the management of human resources within a voluntary Main Street organization is often overlooked.

The Maine Association of Nonprofits has perfectly summed up the critical importance of regular self-assessments for boards:

A strong, vibrant board of directors is a clear indicator of a healthy organization.  Yet even the best organizations need a periodic check-up to ensure that they cannot just survive but will really thrive in today’s environment.  To check your board’s vital signs, or to put in place practices and strategies for a healthy and energized board, the best place to start is with a board self-assessment.

Self-assessments may feel threatening to some board members, and getting buy-in to devote time to the process take some time. In the end, an assessment brings to light the areas for improvement and makes it easier to celebrate mission achievements.

How can your board most effectively use the strengths of each person on your team? Find out here from the National Council of Nonprofits.