How to Be a Super Board Chair
By Jon Huggett and Mark Zitter
24 Aug 2024
This Stanford article shares nine practical strategies for strong board leadership in social enterprises. It explains how board chairs can build a positive culture, clarify roles, support executive leaders, plan for succession, recruit the right members, and address underperformance to create a respectful and effective board.
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This article from Stanford’s Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society shares nine tips for effective board leadership in social enterprises. Authors Jon Huggett and Mark Zitter draw on their experience as board chairs to offer useful advice. They encourage board chairs to focus on creating a lasting impact, not just short-term goals.
Key tips include:
- Building a culture of respect and inclusion
- Setting clear expectations for board members
- Tailoring board roles to each person’s interests
- Running efficient meetings
- Supporting the executive director
- Planning for leadership changes
- Improving board recruitment
- Addressing underperformance
- Actively seeking feedback
The authors highlight leading as a peer, fostering teamwork, and using board members’ diverse skills and viewpoints.
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