Articles about the Relationship Model™

In our organization our CEO has total control of the investing of all our endowment funds.  Personally, I do not think this is appropriate.  I believe that the board should not delegate the responsibility, because it cannot delegate the accountability.  And just because the CEO is experienced in investing, the board is not excused from […]

We have noticed what may be a trend in recent years away from boards that are elected by members and towards boards that elect themselves.  There are several reasons for this phenomenon. 1. Organizations that are new begin with a founding board that comprises the original membership required for registration. Focused on their new reason […]

For nearly two years I’ve been travelling to Botswana to train boards.  I can hardly believe the interest in governance and church government in southern Africa.  I can just barely keep up with the demand. In Botswana where my most recent work began I now have sixteen clients, many of them working in HIV and […]

Question: I keep reading about managing boards and governing boards, but honestly I’m not sure that I could explain the difference. What is a governing board? Answer: A governing board is a board that controls the organization by policies instead of a steady stream of management decisions. Governance involves designing board structure and process, directing […]

The fact that visits to my blog more than tripled in a single day when I posted part one of this two-part article is an indication that I touched a nerve.  Good. In this article I want to share how to get out of this mess or better yet how to avoid it altogether.  If […]

In my fifty years of leadership in not-for-profit organisations, the last fifteen of which is as a governance consultant for more than 200 organisations in two dozen countries, I have seen rogue boards encounter the perfect storm only six times.  That’s only 3%.  It’s rare, but you might be surprised how often the elements that […]

If I finally get the co-pastor I need, how would the services that your consulting firm offers be of use and help to us?   I have surfed your website a little bit, but have not done so in depth.   A few words about that would be helpful. Yes, the Relationship Model would benefit you immensely, […]

Question: Our pastor is a wonderful person and a great preacher, but there is one thing that bothers me. He says that he has a divine call and is therefore accountable directly to God, not to the congregation or the church board. I don’t think that this is right, but no one seems to want […]

Imagine that you have just been elected to the position of Board Chair – and not because you were the only one willing to accept nomination.  The other Directors believe you have the competencies to handle the challenge of the position.  In this article we review one of the most important competencies of the Board […]

Question:  Whom do you think make the best board members – people who are willing to take risks or people who are very cautious?  Is there a group or profession of people which produces the ideal board member? Answer:  Both.  A board needs members who can calculate risk carefully.  It also needs people who take […]