Board Development and Executive Education

Understanding the BC Society Act

Do you know if your organization is in compliance with the Society Act? Setting the legal framework for every not-for-profit society incorporated in BC, the Society Act provides the boundaries for governance, financial affairs, amalgamation, and dissolution. This half day session will review how this Act affects the ongoing work of your board and organization.

Board Basics: Roles and Responsibilities

Are you new to your role as a board member? The half day session will examine how to: overcome challenges to board and organizational effectiveness; build engaged, effective boards; move boards out of operations and into the “big picture”; and align work and performance with organizational values and vision. This workshop focuses on board members’ key responsibilities and provides tools to develop stronger board recruitment, orientation, meeting management, committee structures and evaluation techniques.

Board Member Essentials

Are you considering joining the board of a not-for-profit or charitable organization? Are you wondering how to find the perfect “fit” for a board position? This workshop was designed to introduce you to the role of the volunteer board member, including board governance, liability, and responsibilities. In this 90 minute session, you will obtain current and relevant resources and tools to ensure you can identify the right board position for you – and have the skills required to excel in your community leadership role.

Critical Role of the Board Chair

Strong board leadership is about more than running efficient meetings. Workshop participants will: gain a better understanding of the Board Chair’s role; explore how to move your Board towards a governance model; and begin to develop a 100 day action plan to engage your board in achieving its organizational mission. This half day workshop will focus on the three central roles of a board chair: as captain, as coach for other board members, and as catalyst for organizational change.

Evaluating your Executive Director

With no peers and no direct supervisor, it can be difficult for an Executive Director to obtain honest feedback to improve his or her performance. This half day workshop will provide processes and templates for Boards to effectively and fairly assess the work of their Executive Director. Learn why, when and how to evaluate the Executive Director, and move towards developing a process and an assessment tool that works for your organization.

Executive Directors: Leading your Board

Working with a Board of Directors can be one of the most fulfilling – and frustrating –aspects of an Executive Director’s job. This half day workshop examines the Executive Director’s role in both supporting and leading the Board from behind. Learn how to better engage your board and develop strategies to clarify your responsibilities vs. those of the Board. The workshop will focus on a seven-step process to assist you in leading your board to lead your organization.

Strategic Recruiting: Building your Board

Recruiting new Board members who are qualified and committed is one of a Board's biggest challenges. Workshop participants will gain tools to: prepare the board for strategic board recruitment; recognize the importance of diversity in building an effective Board; and ensure board succession planning becomes part of the culture in this half-day session. Move beyond recruiting the usual suspects by creating a strategic framework to identify, recruit, and engage the “right” Board members.

Hiring your New Executive Director

One of the most significant leadership tasks that your board will undertake is that of hiring a new Executive Director. It is important to take significant time to agree on the process, organiza a search committee and manage timelines to ensure that you engage the right person for your organization.

Strategic Planning 101

A strategic plan provides high level direction and ensures good board governance for an organization. This workshop focuses on the importance of a strategic plan and outlines its components. Participants will be introduced to strategic plan preparation, implementation and review.

 

Putting People First

Knowledge Philanthropy: How to Find and Engage External Talent

Talented community members are eager to contribute their skills to your cause as knowledge philathropists. This hands-on workshop will prepare Executuve Directors, Board Members and other senior leaders to create a high level position and find a knowledge philanthropist to deliver it. This workshop requires an application process.

Attracting and Recruiting the Right People

Are you responsible for hiring staff and volunteers with little or no human resource management training? Attracting and recruiting the best-fit employees and volunteers is critical to your organization’s success. In this half day session you will gain skills in developing job advertisements, screening resumes, developing interview questions, and conducting reference checks. Learn how to get the “right” people in your organization who have the skills and interests required to achieve your mission.

Managing Performance Issues

Are you faced with employee or volunteer performance management challenges or involuntary termination? By implementing a progressive, corrective discipline process, you encourage your employees and volunteers to become productive to your organization. This workshop will focus on tools to develop or strengthen your discipline and termination policies and procedures. In addition, it will provide you with important information to help you soundly terminate an employee or volunteer.

Performance Management

Managing performance is key to workforce engagement and the effectiveness and productivity of your organization. This half day workshop focuses on practical tools for dealing with performance and development of your people in a proactive manner. This session will provide hands-on tools to set SMART goals for your employees and volunteers, prepare for and conduct effective performance reviews, provide timely and constructive feedback, and have those crucial conversations when someone may no longer fit the role or organization.

 

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