A lot of our clients are restructuring their boards these days.  Standing committees just don't seem to be working as well as they once did. Contributing factors include:  more board members have professional careers; long hours and travel make it difficult to commit to regular meetings; increasingly professional CEO's and leadership make the board committee role a bit unclear; and, trustees feel bored and underutilized in standing committees.  So, how to get the work done?

 

Many organizations are making more use of task forces and special advisors.  Task forces are typically formed to complete a discrete project:  produce an event; develop a new brand or marketing campaign; conduct an in-depth program evaluation; look at opportunities for collaboration or partnerships; or identify opportunities for earned income.  The problem is clearly stated, the best people put on the job, and specific timelines and deliverables are defined.  Task forces are primarily comprised of board members but may also include others as needed for the best result.  This format gives individuals an opportunity to commit to a specific project and timeframe, while feeling their skills are being put to the best use by the organization.  Task forces can be created out of the priorities of a standing committee or just out of an emerging need.

 

Similarly, boards and CEO's are making better use of individuals who can provide specific expertise "on-call".  Typical areas include human resources specialists, attorneys, finance and investing experts, community leaders, government officials, and agency peers.  While these individuals have a lot to contribute and are generally eager to help on an as-needed basis, they may not be able to commit to a full board role.

 

Task forces and advisors can provide a great deal of flexibility and responsiveness and can help to engage current and new volunteers.  However, they also pose challenges such as increased demands on coordination and communication, clearly setting expectations, and ensuring the work is rooted in the organization's overall strategy and not just fun projects the members would find stimulating.

 

We would love to hear about your own experiences with these or other governance structures - please drop us a line!