There's really nothing more miserable for a group of volunteers than to find themselves in a situation where one or more people disagree passionately, and in a very personal manner. Suddenly all the stated or assumed values of the organization respect for the dignity of each individual, professionalism, and inclusion all go flying out the window. The cure for these situations is often almost as uncomfortable as the ailment, suggesting that prevention is the key to the well-being of the body politic.

A positive aspect of conflict is that it often shows the extent to which some board members care about the organization and are willing to speak out. In many cases, volunteers have to overcome a natural reticence to stand up for what they think is right. This reluctance comes from a combination of unwillingness to get involved in a messy or difficult situation, as well as from a concern about how they will be seen if they disagree. In some cases, the absence of conflict may indicate a certain level of apathy exists on the board.

Symptoms

• Personal accusations are made in the boardroom, or people are arguing and no one is listening to one another.
• People leave the board meeting and cluster in the parking lot to rehash their position or to express what they really think.
• Board members are quoted in the media as disagreeing with policies or decisions made by the board as a whole, or by specific members or the executive director.
• People are resigning from the board in anger, or stop showing up at the meetings.
• Board members are pressured to choose sides in an argument.
• Members send inflammatory emails attacking their opponents and defending their positions

Click here for Root Causes