tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416792277523234242.post8793332683154547129..comments2023-10-28T10:52:27.646-04:00Comments on Leading by Design: Emergency or Poor Planning?Anne W. Ackersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04543098694263540652noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416792277523234242.post-85890866163783668312012-06-08T07:55:17.836-04:002012-06-08T07:55:17.836-04:00In the two meetings I have attended so far in my t...In the two meetings I have attended so far in my tenure as a board member, the question of communication (between staff and board, and among board members) is something I'm still trying to suss out.<br /><br />Board orientation and training does not appear to be standardized practice (my conversations prior to my election were with the director, by telephone and email). I was given most if not all the major governance documents and I feel I have ready access to the director for questions.<br /><br />I've been assigned to the board management committee (at my request) where I am leading a strategic planning effort now. I do intend to assert some influence over bolstering the trustee recruitment and training process.<br /><br />And I believe that a number of infrastructure issues can be addressed through the planning process and in the plan itself.Anne W. Ackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04515705877936397989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416792277523234242.post-69850078653204340422012-06-05T09:46:52.643-04:002012-06-05T09:46:52.643-04:00Anne, I especially appreciated this blog posting. ...Anne, I especially appreciated this blog posting. Your comment about presenting the true nature of an unbudgeted need is especially important: <br /><br />"There are true emergencies in organization life, and then there's just poor planning. To cast issues as emergencies or "must be done now's", when they've been deteriorating or non-functioning for years is to walk a very thin 'boy who cried wolf' line..."Tania Saidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14343520925054455961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416792277523234242.post-63017464635012683842012-06-04T08:30:37.398-04:002012-06-04T08:30:37.398-04:00It strikes me that this is also a communication an...It strikes me that this is also a communication and leadership issue on the part of the board chair with the director. I wonder what board orientation & training are like. I wonder how explicit the relationship between the board chair & the director is, and if they have opportunities to communicate outside of board meetings. <br />And I'd like to know why staff might have thought that this was the way they needed to get action on something - was it sloppiness on their part (a board perspective, perhaps), or was it in response to poor overall communications or responsiveness (a staff perspective)? <br />There are so many questions raised by this little anecdote - so many narratives that it suggests - and sadly it's such a familiar story!Sarah Griswoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13374013988047139522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416792277523234242.post-51595336237083097112012-06-04T08:15:00.417-04:002012-06-04T08:15:00.417-04:00I love the idea, too, Jamie. Thanks for sharing i...I love the idea, too, Jamie. Thanks for sharing it. And I plan to share it with the director of this organization when I have a chance to speak privately with her.Anne W. Ackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04515705877936397989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6416792277523234242.post-45198388508422129802012-06-03T14:30:25.997-04:002012-06-03T14:30:25.997-04:00In his book "Doing Good Even Better", Ed...In his book "Doing Good Even Better", Edgar Stoesz suggests combating experiences like that with a "No Raw Meat" policy. Everything to be discussed at a Board meeting needs to be on the agenda, which is distributed ahead of time along with any appropriate materials related to decisions the Board will be asked to vote on. Any "raw meat" that hasn't been sufficiently researched, resourced and prepped to turn-key readiness is sent back for reworking rather than being voted on. <br /><br />Although we have not yet managed to reach that level in my organization, I love the idea and it's what we're shooting for!Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14749612769351728802noreply@blogger.com