What are the key challenges for Chairs?
Chairs face challenges that go well beyond chairing meetings. Their central role, often played out behind the scenes, calls for effective leadership, delivered with diplomacy and empathy.
Essential Competencies for Chairs include:
- Ambassador
- Strategist
- Communicator
- Mediator
- Public speaker
- Problem solver
- Motivator
They also need to understand:
- how non-profit organisations work in general - and their own in particular
- the full range of the Board’s responsibilities in terms of governance, legal compliance, finance and fund-raising, staff and volunteer management, strategic planning, Board development, communication, and accountability
- where to turn to plug the gaps in their own knowledge.
The challenge of team working
On most issues, Chairs need to explore the best way forward with their fellow trustees. Sometimes they work closely with an inner ‘executive’ group consisting of, for example, the Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. So they need to build the skills and confidence of the whole team to take decisions and move forward.
The new challenge of appraisal
Chairs with paid staff are increasingly expected to appraise their CEOs in a structured way. Sometimes this appraisal extends to the Board itself. However formal or informal the process, Chairs need excellent interpersonal skills and judgement to do the job well.
“The Board should ensure that formal arrangements are set up for the regular supervision, appraisal and personal development of their chief executive. This may be carried out by the Chair, another trustee or by a small group of board members.”
Good Governance: A Code for the Voluntary and Community Sector, 2005
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