How Do You Deal With Disgruntled Former Board Members?
In spite of general agreement that serving on a nonprofit or other board of directors can bring out the best of someone’s talents, sometimes departing board members disagree. A former board member who leaves service with unresolved policy or personal issues can damage the organization he or she served. Anticipating problems, providing clear procedures for resolving conflicts, and creating post-service strategies can help address the problems of dealing with disgruntled former board members. Anticipate problems with board members during recruitment. Organizational by-laws should include clear statements of the responsibilities of board members. Rules about confidentiality, attendance, reporting procedures, along with consequences of violating board by-laws, should be provided at an initial interview. This will ensure that prospective members understand what is expected of them, preventing the “nobody-told-me” syndrome. A prospective member told that he/she is expected to attend committe
