How can the board chair and the chief executive work together productively?
The board chair and the CEO need to support, consult, and complement each other. Each has her own responsibilities: The chair leads the board, while the CEO manages the operational activities of the foundation. They share power in their mutual pursuit of advancing the mission of the community foundation. As the CEO, you will want to cultivate your relationship with your board chair immediately. While this is a shared responsibility, the burden usually falls on the CEO. If you are a new CEO, or if the board chair is new, begin by meeting with the chair right away. Share what you are learning or have learned as CEO, ask the chair questions, and discuss the kind of relationship you want. Talk about what you can do to develop your partnership. Ask the board chair—and the board, for that matter—to communicate their expectations to you verbally, or, better yet, in writing, and often (twice or more per year).
