1. 2010 GSA CHILD CARE CONFERENCE
Aaron Lindstrom
REVITALIZING YOUR BOARD
All images courtesy of unless otherwise noted
Introduction to Networking
CONNECT for EFFECT

2. Introduction to Networking
Hello, My name is Aaron Lindstrom. I have served as the President for a GSA childcare board and am the owner of Connect for Effect, a sales and management consulting firm. For the next hour and a half, I am going to read really boring PowerPoint slides to you while you wonder why you are not at the pool, check your phone, and try not to stick a pen in your eye out of sheer boredom. Doesn’t that sound fun and productive?
Introduction to Networking
CONNECT for EFFECT

3. Introduction to Networking
Presenter Image
Self introduction, discuss why we have the power point, go over the rules of discussion
Introduction to Networking
CONNECT for EFFECT

4. Revitalizing Your Board
AGENDA
Getting our focus
Identifying our needs and our passions
Creating atmosphere
Alternative approaches to your board
Board not Bored
Questions
Revitalizing Your Board
CONNECT for EFFECT

5. Revitalizing Your Board
WHY ARE WE HERE?
Discussion of what are goals are and why we are doing this. Beyond our children, what do we want to get from our board experience?
Just a note! I took these, they are my kids, not something I took off Flickr!
Revitalizing Your Board
CONNECT for EFFECT

6. WHAT DO WE NEED FOR OUR BOARD1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Open discussion after short group breakouts on what attributes we need on our board: Leaders, Record Keepers, Cheerleaders, Fundraisers, Question Askers, Financial perspectives, Score Keepers, Creative Thinkers, ect. Once this is identified, individuals will rank the areas the are most passionate about and what they are the strongest at.
Revitalizing Your Board
CONNECT for EFFECT

7. FINDING YOUR SUPERHERO
Based on pervious exercise, we will discuss what makes us a “Superhero.” We will talk about how our energy and excellence will help create the energy for the board. I will reference the hedgehog concept from Good to Great – What can you be the best in the world at as well as confronting the brutal fact that we cannot run a board by ourselves.
Revitalizing Your Board
CONNECT for EFFECT

8. FINDING OTHER SUPERHEROS
We have established we cannot run a board as individuals, so we need to gather others with super powers as well. Each member will serve in a different capacity and each person will bring unique talents to the organization. It is important to note that as leaders, we cannot expect excellence if we force others into roles for which they are not suited. We will identify how many of what type of person we need.
Revitalizing Your Board
CONNECT for EFFECT

9. Revitalizing Your Board
CREATING A CULTURE
What do you want your board to look like? Is it a high level business like atmosphere or a fun and casual team. There are no wrong answers to what a board looks like as long as all members of the team know their roles and the direction the board is going.
Revitalizing Your Board
CONNECT for EFFECT

10. Revitalizing Your Board
LONG vs. SHORT
Traditional board models are beginning to fail with the increase of Gen X and Gen Y parents. We will discuss the idea of focal positions, task forces, and the use of long and short term positions to accomplish the goals of the board. We will also discuss challenges to continuity and management of nontraditional board models
Revitalizing Your Board
CONNECT for EFFECT

11. THE BUSINESS OF THE BUSINESS
How to deal with the business of the Board. Reports are boring, financial data is out of some of our grasps. We have limited time, so why do we spend so much of it reading off reports we were all supposed to have read? We will discuss consent agendas and meeting minutes, we will talk about how and when to review these items in detail, and discuss staff reports and involvement in this section as well
Revitalizing Your Board
CONNECT for EFFECT

12. Revitalizing Your Board
A FEW TIPS
Create Board Books
Involve the Community
Ask for Help
Never Forget Why You Are Here!
Also, seek ideas from the attendees
Revitalizing Your Board
CONNECT for EFFECT

13. Revitalizing Your Board
QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU!
Aaron Lindstrom
Revitalizing Your Board
CONNECT for EFFECT