Page 19 - 2019 Delegate Assembly Conference
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Having served on the board of the Houston “What drives me most nuts is when you have
Goodwill off an on for the past two decades, a board member who jumps into the weeds,”
Moore said the Goodwill mission touched his Lufburrow said. “Sometimes it’s needed. But when
heart, but the business part touched his head. you’re coming out of a tough situation, let the staff
“It’s one of the few nonprofits I know of where a we’ve put together take it.”
businessman can use his business acumen to
make a difference in the world,” he said. Daryl Campbell, president and CEO of the Seattle
Goodwill, emphasized the importance of the CEO
For James MacGregor, the thrill of seeing and the board of directors knowing and respecting
how his volunteerism immediately impacts their leadership roles in the organization.
the community offers him a natural high. “In
Washington, DC, if you go to The Excel Center, “I want the board to know what it’s like in the
it’s pretty powerful,” MacGregor said. “One of trenches, but I don’t want them to be in the
the things about Goodwill is that you can see trenches with us,” Campbell said. “There’s a bright
what you’re doing and the contributions you are line separating the CEO role from the board role.
making in the moment.” I’m very fortunate that the board has understood
that and stayed in their lane.”
Annoyances on Both Sides of the Table
Vincent also touched on inconsistent board
CEOs won’t call themselves the yin to their member attendance standing out as a pet peeve
directors’ yang all the time. There are natural of his. “If you can’t make board meetings, let us
points of friction that emerge because of the know so we can find someone who can be fully
relationship dynamic between the parties. committed,” he said.
As a veteran of several boards of directors, A Challenge to Both CEOs and Boards
Shroeder said her main pet peeve is when staff
members try to spin organizational challenges In an exchange facilitated by Meloy, the panel
about which the board needs to know. “Don’t discussed whether Goodwill boards of directors
dress it up. Give us the ugly information so are reflective of the community they serve and
everyone is informed,” she said. whether that should extend beyond racial, ethnic,
gender and sexual diversity. Shouldn’t former
Along the lines of communication, MacGregor Goodwill participants who have found career,
said tendencies for staff to overcommunicate economic and personal independence also serve
can also grate on the patience of board on Goodwill boards of directors?
members. “Sometimes in an effort to keep
everyone up to speed, we provide too much “I think this is exactly the right question,” Campbell
information,” MacGregor said. “Be brief, be bright said. “It challenges us in ways we need to be
and be gone.” challenged and it’s really important for us to think
about this,” he said.
But the shade is not one-sided. CEOs also
shared their pet peeves with their boards of Watch, Read, Learn | Curated Resources
directors, ranging from advisors who get overly
involved in organizational issues and not in 1. Watch the full general session video.
fulfilling their commitment to attend board 2. Take a board self-assessment to learn
meetings. about your overall performance. 17
