Maintaining and Motivating Boards | Origin: OP110
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Developing Effective Advisory and Governing Boards --> Maintaining and Motivating Boards
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
Keeping boards engaged requires clear communication, recognition of contributions, and alignment with the institution’s mission and goals. Regular updates, meaningful involvement in decision-making, and opportunities for professional development help maintain motivation and commitment. Recognizing and celebrating successes, both individually and collectively, reinforces board members’ value and encourages continued participation.
I also learned that understanding each member’s strengths and interests allows leadership to assign roles and responsibilities that maximize impact. I intend to apply this information by fostering strong relationships with board members, ensuring they feel informed, appreciated, and empowered to contribute to the school’s success.
Question for discussion:
What strategies have you seen work well to keep advisory or governing board members consistently engaged and motivated?
It’s the first time I learned about how to engage and motivate boards members. I will check out into my organization to make the changes that are necessary to accomplish these,. Thanks
Los consejos directivos y asesores pueden convertirse en recursos valiosos para el éxito y la ventaja competitiva de una institución de formación profesional si se diseñan y gestionan adecuadamente. Para lograrlo, la dirección debe definir claramente sus propósitos, fomentar la ética, la responsabilidad y establecer indicadores para medir resultados. También es esencial que los consejos contribuyan con soluciones a problemas complejos, cuenten con un entorno adecuado para sus reuniones, promuevan la diversidad y el desarrollo de relaciones, y ofrezcan oportunidades de crecimiento profesional. Estas acciones fortalecen el compromiso y desempeño de sus miembros, manteniendo la vitalidad y el enfoque del consejo en generar el mayor beneficio posible para la institución.
Recognizing board members for any of their contributions and their service can help create a positive experience for them through a professional form of acknowledgement which can help with board effectiveness.
Motivating and retaining an advisory or governance board for a school or university requires creating a shared vision, fostering strong relationships, and recognizing the value of board members' contributions. To keep members engaged, it is essential to clearly communicate the institution’s goals and how their expertise directly influences its success. Regular updates on the impact of their work, acknowledgment of their time and effort, and providing opportunities for personal and professional growth can also enhance retention. Additionally, offering board members a platform to contribute meaningfully to decision-making processes and involving them in key initiatives will foster a sense of ownership and commitment to the institution’s long-term success.
The idea of giving swag to board members is a great way to include them in the campus community.
I really like the idea of giving service awards. I have some longstanding board members that we have never formally recognized.
it is important to keep your members engaged and feeling appreciated
I have learned the importance of the board.
A way to foster board vitality is to appoint a "board information liaison" to maintain effective information and communications among members.
I learned that there is need for board recognition to keep members motivated and focused.
This has been a challenge over the past 3 years. I have been providing snacks and drinks and also sending out thank you cards for participation. This has helped with retention.
I find that getting advisory board member participation can be challenging. Over the past several years we've taken an evening to have dinner and a tour connected to what we teach. our advisory board members have enjoyed this and participation is steady.
It is important to recognize the contributions of board members, but this is often overlooked.
Advisory Boards should be allowed to run the advisory meetings themselves. This includes writing the agenda. AS the college representation, the faculty should be responsible in communicating the Advisory boards wishes through apropriate channels.
Special puroose awards can take many forms
In order to effectively maintain and motivate a board, a few things need to take place including professional development, recognition, and proper communication. I believe that offering individuals on a board professional development is also a form of recognition or thanks for their time and service. However, I understand and agree with the value that can be added by presenting awards or utilizing activities like retreats for governing boards, where appropriate. Using concise, meanginful, and timley communicaiton with relevancy to the members' responsibilities, using the best available information within context will create a more cohesive team and board. Without communication and consistency any team will not be able to meet their goals or know what is expected of them. A team needs to understand what has happend, what is happening, what needs to happen, and what their role is in driving the team to that goal. The same goes for a board, and the chairperson needs to manage a board as they would any effective team, with the best communication practices possible. That, coupled with recognition, training, and support will build a stronger and more effective board.
There is a lot of common sense in the content of the module.
As all humans, board members need to feel appreciated and motivated.
