Problem: Board wants additional staff in meetings
5.03.2024
Some boards will want additional staff in the board meeting in case they have a question. Additional staff beyond the organizational leader makes it more difficult for the board to speak openly about organizational performance. It also blurs the single point of accountability a governing board usually wants with the organizational leader. A managing board may want additional staff in the meetings to more efficiently work together with the leadership. A governing board will want to avoid bringing in other staff because it will pull them into management discussions and decisions. If they do, they will schedule staff reports at the beginning of the meeting and excuse them when they are done. A navigating board may want other outside experts invited to meetings to gather expert opinions or to help them learn about changes in the relevant environment. Existing staff will tend to resist the kind of changes a navigating board is contemplating.