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“We think of leadership as a position. But I disagree. To me, leadership is a behavior. Everyone can be a leader regardless of position or title.” Those were the words of Leon Atwell, who spoke this winter at the 6th National Conference on Grazing Lands on the topic of community excellence.
The workshop was designed to help members who serve on committees and boards learn ways to be more effective – whether serving on a state board, a national board, or even a local conservation district, school board, or county fair board.
The top piece of advice issued: Identify what is expected of the board and its members – and review that guiding principal every year. It seems like a simple piece of advice, but how many of us are members of organizations where the board of directors get off on a tangent – often driven by a personal agenda – and fail to get back to providing the leadership necessary to pursue the goals in the best interest of the organization.
Another comment emphasized during the session: Do what’s best for the community. Along with that, realize change is going to happen – and organizations must be prepared for those changes. Atwell noted that boards can do that by “being forward thinking and planning accordingly.”
He added, “Maintaining status quo is not an option – it means your organization is dying. The reasons for change are to make us better than we are today.”
Quincy Ellis, a community development specialist, assisted Atwell with the presentation and emphasized the key ingredients for developing a strong, functional board of directors. Ellis noted that having – and adhering to – policy and procedures in the form of established by-laws are essential.
Additionally, Ellis advocates for organizations to have a strategic plan with goals prioritized. “That is your roadmap to success,” he says. But he notes that many organizations do not have a written plan. He likes to ask question of board members: Tell me what goal number three is on your plan? He says, “Most don’t know because they don’t have a plan.”
His advice is to plan, and set small incremental goals. “Accomplish a few things as opposed to starting on a bunch that are never completed,” he advises.
As well, he noted that members of the board must understand their roles. This means newly elected board members may need some leadership training. Additionally, in recruiting members to a board, Ellis emphasizes that they should be informed of the skills necessary and the expectations of board members. If they don’t feel they “fit the bill,” they could then bow out prior to being appointed or elected. “To have a strong board, you need the right person and they need to know their role – not just be a warm body filling a chair,” he says.
Ellis also has strong words for individuals who have served for 20-plus words on a board. He says, “You may be denying opportunities for others to grow and contribute to the organization.”
Ellis emphasizes that leadership is about growing others. He notes that often “control freaks” may have trouble delegating to others, but notes, “you don’t allow others to grow if you don’t.” And he says, “As you help others grow, it is impossible for you not to grow with them.” He adds, “Leadership is the process of taking people to places they otherwise wouldn’t go by themselves.”
Lastly, Ellis stresses that no one “owns” a board. Members belong to a board and have the obligation to help the organization grow.
Editor’s note: Atwell and Ellis work with several rural communities to promote “community excellence.” Learn more at: http://communityexcellence.co/
Their comments are also featured in a free webinar series available to help provide strategies to strengthen setting a mission and vision and implementing a successful plan. While the webinars were created for state grassland coalitions, many of the tips are applicable to all organizations. View them by visiting: http://www.grazinglands.org/ and clicking on Webinar Series.
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