Question: I'm afraid that I have a bad reputation on our board. It seems that I'm the only one that questions things. I guess it's my nature, because I seem to be drawn to the other side of every issue. People don't appreciate having everything questioned. What do you think is appropriate for a board member to question? Do I have a right or an obligation to ask questions that probe the decisions we are making?
Answer: You won't be surprised to learn that this story has two sides too.
In my work with boards I have come to the view that in many (okay, most) cases board members are too courteous to one another. Very often I will hear conversations after the meeting that express someone's dissatisfaction with the behaviour of a board member during a meeting. Very seldom, however, do I ever hear a board member's behaviour challenged during the meeting itself.
Generally, we shy away from confrontation. We often think accountability is negative, perhaps unforgiving. We consciously allow incidents to pass without challenging words and actions with which we disapprove. Consequently, problems continue unresolved.
Then there are people like you. You don't seem to have the same difficulty as others do in confronting issues openly. There is an important gift in that. You can be a strong force for good in the board process.
On the other hand, confrontation must be done appropriately in order for it to be effective. I have no way of knowing what it is like to listen to you or watch you "doing your thing" but I have often observed people expressing dissident views inappropriately. It is unfortunate, because the manner of their confrontation is cancel out the benefit they should have in the process of decision-making.
Here's a simple checklist to monitor the quality of your participation:
- Am I taking the position I have because of my commitment to the organization and its well being?
- Am I affirming of the person or persons whose point of view I am questioning?
- Is it the issue that I am challenging (as opposed to the person)?
- Am I asking questions to clarify the issue, rather than making an uninformed judgment?
- Am I able to accept the board's decision, having had my opportunity to speak?
If your answer is yes to all these questions, then you are very likely taking a responsible part in the debate of the issue. If, on the other hand, your answer to one or more of these questions is in the negative, then it may help to reevaluate your motivation. Consider discussing the issue of your participation and your feelings of being misunderstood with one or more of the board members.
Honest, issue-oriented debate is the key to quality decisions. I hope you will find that you will be able to continue to provide challenging input into your board's deliberations. At the same time I also hope that you will be able to find support from your peers in your participation.
Les Stahlke, President
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