Board members who are struggling can pose a serious threat to the effectiveness and cohesion of the board. While it’s tempting to let the problem go unnoticed in the hope that the person will change their ways or quit when their term is up however, this is not an effective strategy. It is more likely that the behaviour will continue to escalate and become more pronounced, negatively impacting other employees, making it harder for them to perform their duties effectively.
One way to deal with difficult board directors is by directly intervention. Begin by inviting them to a one-on-one discussion with the chairperson or someone they regard in high esteem and would listen to, to explain the problems with their behaviour. It is important to gain an understanding of what is driving their behavior, like the feeling that they are not valued or heard by the 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 result in a fight or conflict.
If the person isn’t taken to task in an individual conversation, it is often helpful to bring the issue to the attention of other board members in a collective intervention. This is a fantastic opportunity for the chairperson to show that they respect the opinions of everyone and are not afraid to confront difficult behavior. Additionally, it is crucial theboardmeeting.blog/data-room-comparison-for-giving-enough-resources/ to keep a record of what was discussed to ensure that, when you go back around to people, you can brief them on any new information you have gathered.
