How to establish your first (and great) Board

If you are starting a non-profit or a company where you need to establish a Board of Directors, here are a few tips to make the first go around a pleasant one.

1. Establish your goals for the Board before you ask anyone to join. Do you expect your board to give money, time, connections or something else? Most Boards should give a minimum amount of money each year. Establish that before asking anyone to avoid headaches.

2. Once you establish the goals of the board, identify a dozen people that meet one of your goals. Then, ask those to join who can help meet your goals as a board AND who believe in your vision or cause.

3. If you ask friends or family members to join your board, stay strict with policies, dates and procedures. It will be easy for a sibling or good friend to change meeting dates last minute. Your first year sets the precedent for the future.

4. Set important meetings as far in advance as possible. Set next year’s annual meeting this year. Set budget meetings early. Put them all on the calendar and make sure everyone can attend. Hold everyone accountable to the dates the board has selected.

5. When expectations of your board are clear, don’t be afraid to ask them to get involved.

6. If you have members who have served on previous boards, be sure to clearly communicated your expectations for them. If you don’t, they will assume it will be like their last board membership.

7. Keep them updated. In a start up, you are going 100 mph constantly. Things are changing. A lot is going on with your new venture. Most of the time your board members will not see this. You need to tell them. Be sure to share successes as this keeps people engaged if they know positive impact has been made.

Having a successful board is not easy, but it is worth it. Boards are not permanent, so do the best you can with the best you have. Ultimately your board is there to help you accomplish the goals and vision of your organization.