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15 Ground Rules For Nonprofit Staff And Board Meetings

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Lots of things can derail nonprofit staff, committee and board meetings. As an organization, adhering to the following ground rules for your various meetings can improve productivity and inspire a culture of teamwork:

  1. In this room, at this time, we are all equal. Each of us – regardless of position – will participate.
  2. Each of us will behave according to the organization’s values.
  3. Each of us is mindful of confidentiality and conflict of interest.
  4. We are committed to group process, respect and candor.
  5. We will tap into the wisdom of the group, not focus on the opinions of individuals.
  6. We will question our own assumptions and those of our colleagues in order to think creatively. We will not get stuck on “what we’ve always done” and “what we do today.”
  7. We will listen to each other and suspend judgments.
  8. Our conversation is not about convincing each other but rather about listening to everything and everyone and then deciding what it all means.
  9. Each of us will be heard but that doesn’t mean each of us will get what we want.
  10. No single person(s) shall dominate.
  11. It’s okay to disagree. When issues are important and people care, they argue. But once we decide, that’s it. Once decisions are made, each of us owns and supports the decisions.
  12. Each of us will accept responsibility for speaking out. Silence is consent.
  13. We agree to focus on the meeting agenda and work hard to stay on track.
  14. We will not start over or repeat if someone is late, leaves early or is unable to attend.
  15. We recognize that the job of a facilitator is hard.

What do you think? Do ground rules really matter in board meetings? What is the added value – or not?

How does an organization – and its participants – articulate its ground rules?

And always the big question, how do privilege and power affect ground rules?

Let us know in the comments below, and include any additions we might have missed!

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Simone Joyaux
Simone P. Joyaux, ACFRE was an internationally recognized consultant and speaker, described as “one of the most thoughtful, inspirational, and provocative leaders in the philanthropic sector.” She authored three groundbreaking books, Strategic Fund Development, Keep Your Donors (with Tom Ahern), and Firing Lousy Board Members. She was the recipient of the 2003 Rhode Island Outstanding Philanthropic Citizen Award. With more than 35 years of professional philanthropy experience, Joyaux had served as a chief development officer, executive director, and board chair.

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Comments

  • Laurence Pagnoni

    Excellent post. I will share it with colleagues and highlight on my webinars. Simone is helping us even from the other side. Simone wrote the forward to my book Fundraising 401 and for that I will always be grateful to her. In peace.

  • Dennis Fischman

    Simone, these are fabulous ground rules, and if everybody observed them meetings would become more joyful and more productive..but what will move people to observe them? Recently, I talked with Hildy Gottlieb of Creating the Future about how that group begins and ends their meetings. They begin with "What is the winding path of your life, that has brought you to the work you do?” And they end with "What in particular stood out for you about this meeting?" http://dennisfischman.com/2014/04/24/how-to-make-your-meetings-happy-and-productive-3-questions-you-can-ask/ Maybe this approach would help change organizational culture so the ground rules become second nature.
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