Dealing With Difficult Board Directors

Board members who are struggling can be a major challenge to the efficiency and cohesion of the board. Although it’s tempting to let the problem go unnoticed in the hope that the person will mend their ways or leave the board when their term ends it isn’t a wise approach. It is more likely that the conduct will persist and become more prominent, negatively impacting the rest of the team and making it difficult for them to fulfil their duties efficiently.

One method to deal with difficult board directors is to directly intervening. Begin by inviting the individual to a one-on-1 meeting with the chair or someone that they hold with respect and listen to, and to discuss the issues with their behavior. Try to understand what motivates their behavior, such as an Continued uneasy feeling of not being valued or listened to by other board members. It is also important to have a clear goal in mind, for instance their behavior needs to change, so that the conversation does not develop into a debate or a confrontation.

It is often helpful to bring this issue to the attention of other board members during a group discussion if the person cannot be addressed in a private conversation. This is a fantastic opportunity for the chair to show that they value any input and are not afraid to confront those who exhibit difficult behaviour. Additionally, it’s essential to keep a written record of the discussion so that when you circle back around to people to discuss the discussion, you can update them on any new information that you have learned.