Even though some boards are comprised of seven or more members, it is vital to remember that one of the reasons governance teams exist is to ensure the organizational mandate is achieved. Every member is there to help the board govern. They do not have any individual powers and do not represent the board without permission.
It is possible for boards to have members who do not believe in the wholeness of the board. They want to deliver their own message and only be seen to be part of the team when all is well. However, when friction begins and external pressure is placed on them, they want to break from the team and present their own story.
They make excellent board members as long as everything is going as they think it should. When decisions are different from the options they proposed they want to make statements such as
- They made that decision but I didn’t agree with it
- I did my best but they wouldn’t listen to me
- I presented your case but they didn’t see it my way.
Unfortunately, if a board has 15 members it cannot function effectively when each board member acts as if he is a power unto himself. The best board members recognize that sometimes their peers may agree with their point of view and sometimes they will not. Just as they want those that disagreed with a decision to support that decision when it was one they support, it is imperative that they show the same respect when the situation is reversed.
When this does not happen, team solidarity is compromised and trust is lost. It is possible that board members will employ tactics that they would otherwise avoid. These include
- Holding meetings outside the official meeting
- Soliciting support for a stance prior to a board meeting
- Making decisions at the executive committee rather than bring them to the board.
Boards need to challenge board members who do not respect the team. (For more on essential team characteristics follow this link) Boards that appoint members could avoid such persons by asking about individuals’ behaviour on prior boards before putting their names forward for selection.
