Role of the Chairperson
The chairperson of the board has to meet many expectations of other board members and staff. It is a challenge to meet these different expectations if not clarified.
Limited Authority
The chairperson has no more authority than any other board member and, like other board members, serves the owners and the organization within the board.
The chairperson operates within board-set policies when making decisions on behalf of the board between board meetings.
Meeting Facilitation
The chairperson facilitates board meetings and focuses on board meeting process.
By preparing the draft agenda, the chairperson can maintain the appropriate focus on governance-related issues.
She refrains from the content of the discussion unless she passes the role of meeting facilitation to the vice chairperson.
The chairperson encourages input from all board members in order to bring diversity of thinking and thorough discussion to the topic at hand.
The chairperson serves the board by discouraging or stopping: a close vote, politicking, or gang-type of voting.
Team Building
As the leader of the board, the chairperson is responsible for developing the board into an effective team.
It is helpful when the chairperson connects with all the board members between board meetings. It aids to make them feel part of the team, learn of any concerns that are limiting their contributions to the board, encourage them by acknowledging their strengths, and develop them by coaching them to overcome their weaknesses.
Communication on Behalf of the Board
The board may designate the chairperson as its public spokesperson.
Typically, it is the chairperson who communicates board-set policies to the CEO when this communication occurs outside of a board meeting.
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