Why Your Board Needs Term Limits
Post by Gail Perry (reposted from Charity Channel)
Do you have a board that is reluctant to enforce term limits for its members? Or do you have bylaws that don’t even mention term limits?
Term limits are important to a smoothly functioning board. In fact, they can be a nonprofit CEO’s best friend. They keep a board from becoming stale and set in its ways. When that happens, your entire organization may be at risk—sooner than you think. With today’s wildly shifting environment, this is a very dangerous place to be.
To illustrate just how term limits can make a difference, let’s look at five types of boards who’ve ignored them.
- The Martyrs. These board members overwork themselves to death. They’re doing the work of staff and constantly complaining: “We work SO hard and we’re SO burned out. Woe to us.” At the same time, they don’t want to let go—because it’s their organization.The irony is that this board may work hard to enlist new and “diverse” members. But when the new recruits see this group’s attitude and what’s expected, they drift away.The downside: there’s little future for this board because they can’t enlist new leadership. Their martyr attitude drives the new people away.
- The Social Club. These board members are really, really comfortable with each other. They may be best friends. Getting together for the board meetings has become social time for what has evolved into a group of very close friends.The downside: Over time, governance activities like policy and serious work about the organization’s future are always last priority. Worst of all, no one on the board wants to rock the boat. Difficult decisions never happen.
- The Frozen-in-Time Club. This board is full of the same people for many years. Their mantra is: “We’ve always done it this way.”New ideas? New ways to implement their mission? Innovation? Close out a nonperforming program? Fire nonperforming staff?Not a chance!Jack Welch said it best: “If the rate of change on the OUTSIDE exceeds the rate of change on the INSIDE, the end is near.”The downside: The Frozen-in-Time Club sees no advantage for moving its members on and bringing in new members who just might not see it the way it should be. Their future is dismal, because they are not open to new ideas or change.
- The “We Own This Organization” Club. This happens when the sense of ownership becomes so deeply ingrained that people think they literally own the organization. They start to feel entitled to the position. A few people call the shots, and that’s it. Their opinion is all that matters.The downside: This board drives out or ostracizes any new members—who will simply feel excluded.Worse, the rest of the board is simply disengaged. The in-crowd that is running the board will push out new board members who may have important connections to funders or community leaders.
- “The Lazies.” This group is so comfortable with itself that innovation and hard work go out the door. This board values their position, but not the work that goes with it. They are as stale as last week’s bread. Are they interested in learning experiences or stimulating discussions? Nope.The downside: Aesop said it best: “When all is said and done, more is said than done.”
The bottom line: All these boards are laying out their organizations’ ruin. When board members get too cozy with each other, and when they exclude new people with new ideas, the end really can be near.
Term limits are a great vehicle for changing these boards. But it takes discipline and willingness.
Like the joke about how many people it takes to change a light bulb, the answer is “none.” The light bulb has to want to change itself. Term limits can make a positive difference but it takes at least one board member to recognize the need for change and push forward that change.
Rotating more community members through your governing body can only broaden your influence and connections with your community’s leadership.
If you welcome new board members, you’ll get fresh thinking and innovation that every board needs. But it takes term limits to make it happen.