Make time to talk together as a board about the culture that you want to maintain or create on the board and what is/will be required so can work together productively. Some of the ways that boards create a culture that can tolerate differences of opinion include:

A. Agree on meeting protocols, such as:

• Start and end on time.
• Allow members to finish their thoughts before the next speaker begins.
• Do not revisit a decision in the same meeting once it has been made unless new information has come to light.
• Focus comments on the issue, not at another speaker.
• Express your point of view at the meeting, not after the meeting or in a public forum.

B. Agree on protocols for communication outside of meetings, such as:

• Limit use of email so that it is a vehicle for exchanging information rather than for continuing debate.
• Not holding informal rehashing sessions after the board meeting where "the real issues" are discussed.
• Discussion between meetings is encouraged, but lobbying between meetings is discouraged.

C. Get to know other board members and the executive director on a more personal level. Having a genuine relationship with colleagues on the board promotes respectful behavior when difficult discussions need to take place. It is harder to cast those opposed to your point of view as the enemy when you know something about their family, work and values.

• Knowing people more personally can also help colleagues discern when someone is speaking passionately, which can otherwise be misconstrued as promoting conflict.
• These relationships can be promoted through a combination of social events, such as an annual board dinner or by collaborating on specific projects.

D. Have stated agreements about what is expected of board members. Conflicts often arise because one or more board members do not feel that other board members are pulling their weight. It is therefore important to start off by articulating what is expected of every board member.

Click here for Articulating Expectations of Board Members

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