How to Encourage Nonprofit Board Members to Speak Up in Board Meetings

Our nonprofit’s board members don’t say very much in meetings, and the Executive Director is doing all the talking. What should we do to get them to speak up in board meetings?

This is a common issue, and there are three avenues for the Chair pursue to change the group behaviour.

1 – Meeting structure or package changes

First, consider if the meeting structure or package needs to change. Could a consent agenda be used to focus board time on discussion and decision items rather than information items? Could questions be posed to the board in advance of the meeting? Are the majority of discussion and decision items directly related to the strategic plan? Could the Chair and the Executive Director make the agenda together? Does the meeting agenda allow board members opportunities to share their skills, or is a organizational norm preventing board engagement?

2 – Ask Questions

Second, pose questions that promote critical thinking. Examples of common questions are:

• Considering our current funding mix, are there opportunities to reduce our risk by cultivating new funding lines?

• How can we strengthen our relationship with a stakeholder?

• Before you joined the board, what is one perspective you had that has changed since joining?

• If we were to start this nonprofit from scratch today, what is something you would do differently?

3 – Board Member Onboarding

Third, does the board recruitment and orientation play a factor? Would a board orientation and tour make board members more confident to speak up? Have we recruited board members that are too similar in their thinking?

By improving meeting structure, asking thoughtful questions, and strengthening board onboarding, nonprofit leaders can create meetings where board members are confident, engaged, and active contributors.