NBOA President and CEO
After many years working with boards in both associations and the independent school community, I consider myself a student of governance. And with that experience, I’d say the difference between a good board and a great one rarely comes down to bylaws or signing conflict of interest forms annually — it comes down to trust among the members of the board. As society appears to be more divided, that trust may be harder to build now than it was before, even for independent schools and nonprofit associations like NBOA.
Recently, I came across a blog on this topic by thought leader Lowell Aplebaum, Ed.D., who is a longtime friend and colleague of mine from the American Society of Association Executives. He explored the ways that trust can buoy boards. When boards intentionally create space for connection, curiosity and shared purpose, they unlock their full potential to lead with courage and vision, he posited. It’s in moments of informal conversations, idea sharing and mission-driven reflections that board members see one another as whole people.
Devoting just a few minutes in each meeting to trust-building can reshape how boards collaborate and govern. In a recent podcast with NBOA Board Chair Beth Pollard and Immediate Past Chair Duncan Booth, I talked about the NBOA Board’s practice of the member scan which allows members the chance to share for two to three minutes what’s going on with them personally or professionally, or, what they are experiencing at their school. I still recall a previous Board Chair who wondered, “Do we really want to spend an hour doing that?” And I understood his point. But we tried it, and to a person today, every Director mentions the value of that exercise at the start of each meeting. In fact, many have suggested this activity to other nonprofit boards on which they serve.
Now back to Aplebaum. Here are five quick exercises he offers to help boards build trust, with thoughts about how they apply in the independent school community:
1. Story Circles
Similar to the member scan example, Aplebaum recommends opening each meeting with a brief reflection, inviting one or two trustees to share a story about the organization they’re there to support. At your school it could be how they first learned about the school, the latest event they participated in and how it resonated with them, or the last person they talked with about the school and what the conversation was about.
By hearing how others in the room are connected to the work, trustees gain critical context to the school’s purpose and mission.
This exercise bridges experience gaps among trustees and builds a shared sense of mission. By hearing how others in the room are connected to the work, trustees gain critical context to the school’s purpose and mission. And, like the member scan, this gives members an opportunity to speak at the start of the meeting, which builds inclusion and diversity of thought.
2. Board Pairs
Aplebaum also recommends pairing up board members for informal conversations between official board meetings to build rapport and help trustees learn about each other’s leadership styles. These conversations could be unrelated to school. For example, Aplebaum offers this conversation starter: “What’s one lesson from your career that guides you today?”
At NBOA, new Directors are assigned a “board buddy,” which may sound corny, but its purpose is not. The more experienced buddy can answer questions about board norms that are generally difficult to ask at the start of your service. These relationships have been very helpful to new Directors particularly during their first year, but these relationships can extend the entire term of service.
3. Get-To-Know Conversations
Another idea is to start a meeting with a fireside style chat with one trustee. “What’s something outside of work that brings you joy?” is an example question that could open small but meaningful windows into personal stories that get beyond people’s job titles.
At the recent fall NBOA Board meeting, we went to Top Golf one night. While I’m not the most passionate golfer you’ll ever meet (should I admit that I didn’t swing the club once?), the activity allowed for many informal conversations. This helped set a tone of camaraderie and openness that carried into the next day’s discussions.
4. Mission Moments
This one I particularly love. Each trustee shares an impact story — a success, a lesson or a meaningful challenge – they have faced either recently or sometime during their career. This sharing could even lead to ideas for the school’s direction. Even if it doesn’t, it can help bring trustees into closer working relationship.
5. Appreciation Round
It can’t hurt to conclude a board meeting with a reflection of appreciation, be it for a colleague’s contribution or the spirit of collaboration. At NBOA, we’ve built this into our staff culture through “giving Freddies” — positive shout-outs named after our unofficial mascot, Freddie the frog. While it may sound simple, this small ritual goes a long way in fostering gratitude and strengthening connections across our team.
Whether you are new to board work or a seasoned liaison to your board’s finance committee, the opportunity to strengthen trust is essential and within reach if you commit to the investment of time to do so. Starting with small, consistent practices can transform the way your board collaborates. As we get deeper into the school year and competing priorities begin to fill up agendas, a foundation of trust will ensure your board remains a steady, purpose-driven partner in advancing your school’s financial and educational success.
Follow NBOA President and CEO Jeff Shields on LinkedIn.
