The following practices promote board leadership and engagement from the start:

• Clear expectations and opportunities for participation are explained during the recruiting process.

• There are other ways of engaging candidates who are not able or willing to fulfill board member expectations.

• There is a specific focus on leadership development including orientation, training and partnering with more seasoned board members.

• There is a succession plan for board officers and committee chairs.

• Board members are placed in leadership positions after a reasonable amount of board services, and are supported in fulfilling their leadership responsibilities.

• Board policies allow long term board members who continue to contribute to remain on the board or play leadership roles on committees or related councils.

• Past leaders allow new leaders to lead.

• Board members who do not fulfill their board duties are invited to take a sabbatical or move to another volunteer role.

• There are structures and systems in place that support board engagement.

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