Northland Healthcare Alliance Working with Boards

Northland Healthcare Alliance  Communicate in an organized, systematic way. Key Principles Good: Information to the Board at least one week prior to the meeting assembled in a concise packet arranged with tabs and page numbers. Bad: Information given out at Board Meeting without time for review or two days before hoping it will get there in time. Really Bad: Send out piece mill five days in a row before meeting.

Northland Healthcare Alliance  Use Information Diffusion to Build Support Key Principles Good: Work with Board Committees to accomplish work of the Board - Finance, Nominating, Executive - They plow the field for progress and comfort Bad: Spring new ideas on the Board for the first time at the meeting without material in Board packet. Really Bad: Save bad news and spring it on the Board without sharing with anyone prior to the meeting.

Northland Healthcare Alliance  Work to Make the Board Structure Appropriate Key Principles Good: Create variety and diversity and enough members to bring out the best ideas and input for progress. Bad: Have a Board structure with two or three egos that do not like each other and are in competitive positions. Really Bad: Have a board full of hospital administrators that hate each other and hate you as the Executive Director.

Northland Healthcare Alliance  Be a Strong Proponent of What is Right Key Principles Good: Know what you want to accomplish, provide truthful information and stand up to bully. Bad: Talk in half truths, tell some Board members one thing and others another thing. Really Bad: Never stand for anything.

Northland Healthcare Alliance  Teach Board Correct Principles Key Principles Good: It is not necessary for Executive Director to do training, but it is important for members to understand what is their role. Bad: Allow Board members to continue with ignorant ideas and bad behaviors like micro managing or controlling every discussion. Really Bad: Live with intolerable board behaviors and hope that it will get better someday.