Boards that invest in their team dynamics will be better positioned to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and drive positive outcomes for their organizations and students.
I’ve written and spoken extensively on the board-superintendent relationship. However, the team within the governance team is equally important. A skilled superintendent can bring a divided board together long enough to conduct the business of the district. But it’s unlikely that a divided board will accomplish much more than conducting business, even with a savvy superintendent.
The deep work school boards do require them to make each other better by melding together their diverse skills, perspectives, and experiences and function as a team aligning goals, making informed decisions, and guiding the organization towards success.
Highly effective school boards value communication, diversity, clear roles, trust, and conflict resolution.
Importance of Communication Communication is the backbone of effective teamwork among board members. Open and transparent communication ensures that all members are informed, engaged, and able to contribute meaningfully to discussions. Effective boards foster an environment where members feel comfortable sharing their opinions and challenging each other's ideas constructively. This requires active listening and respect for different viewpoints, which can lead to more innovative solutions and better decision-making.
Regular meetings, structured agendas planned in advance using a governance calendar, and the use of digital collaboration tools can facilitate better communication. Board members should be encouraged to ask questions and seek clarification on complex issues. Additionally, maintaining open lines of communication outside formal meetings can help build stronger relationships and enable more agile responses to emerging challenges.
Embracing Diversity Diversity among board members is a powerful asset that can enhance the board's ability to understand and address a wide range of issues. Diversity encompasses not only demographic factors such as race, gender, and age but also diversity in skills, experiences, and perspectives. A diverse board is better equipped to consider different angles of a problem, anticipate potential risks, and devise strategies that are inclusive and equitable.
To harness the benefits of diversity, boards should foster an inclusive culture where all members feel valued and empowered to contribute. This involves actively seeking input from all members, especially those who may hold minority viewpoints, and ensuring that diverse perspectives are reflected in the board's decisions and actions.
Defining Clear Roles and Responsibilities Clarity in roles and responsibilities is crucial for board members to work effectively as a team. Each member should understand their individual responsibilities, as well as how their role fits into the broader objectives of the board and the organization. This clarity helps prevent overlaps, reduces the potential for conflict, and ensures that all necessary tasks are covered.
Boards should establish clear governance structures, including committees or task forces that focus on specific areas such as finance, governance, or strategic planning. This allows board members to leverage their expertise and contribute more effectively.
Regular reviews of roles and responsibilities can also help ensure that they remain relevant and aligned with the organization's evolving needs.
Building Trust and Cohesion Trust is the foundation of any successful team, and it is particularly important for boards, where members must work together to make critical decisions. Building trust requires time and effort, as well as a commitment to honesty, integrity, and accountability. Board members should be reliable, follow through on commitments, and demonstrate a willingness to put the organization's interests above personal agendas.
Team-building activities, retreats, and informal gatherings can help strengthen relationships and build cohesion among board members. Additionally, fostering a culture of recognition and appreciation can reinforce positive behaviors and encourage members to support one another.
Navigating Conflict and Decision-Making Conflict is a natural part of any team dynamic, and boards are no exception. However, when managed effectively, conflict can lead to more robust discussions and better decisions. Boards should establish clear processes for addressing conflicts, including guidelines for respectful dialogue and mechanisms for resolving disagreements.
Decision-making in a board setting often involves balancing different interests and perspectives. To facilitate effective decision-making, boards should adopt structured approaches such as consensus-building or majority voting, depending on the issue at hand. It is important for board members to remain focused on the organization's mission and goals, setting aside personal biases or external pressures.
I have always centered communication, embracing diversity, defining clear roles, building trust, and effectively managing conflict as the foundational pillars of my superintendencies. And because I believe school board members are the ultimate role models in a school district, I’ve called on them to those characteristics while on the dais or in the community. After all, we expect the adults in a school district to behave in a manner that makes the organization and the community it serves proud. We need to expect nothing less from our elected officials.
Read other recent articles on governance: Role Conflict and Student Success Caught in the Crosshairs Succession Planning in the Era of the Superintendent Exodus School Board Members Beliefs About State Education Policymaking and Policymakers (Research article)
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