Tapping Your Board’s Intellectual Capital

Professor Dick Chalt from Harvard Business School recently wrote in Board Member, a journal for nonprofits: “one important way in which boards can add value is by contributing intellectual capital to the organization.” The board should be seen as a think tank, not just as managers for the organization. As many of you have heard, I suggest that congregation boards spend some time at each meeting talking about plans, vision, and mission to get ideas for operational improvements out on the table for discussion. Chalt gives five questions for boards to discuss to stimulate reflection about the future and the board’s/parish committee’s role in it: (I’ve modified them a bit from the original to reflect a conversation about congregations.)

1. hat is the legacy this board will leave for future boards to treasure?
2. What would be the greatest consequence to the congregation if the board did not meet or operate for three years?
3. How would the board respond if a member offered a very large donation based on one idea that would make the congregation distinctive and distinguished in the community?
4. What is the most persuasive and concrete testimony this board will offer to the congregation in 2006 to indicate that they had vision in 2003 and acted upon it?
5. What would the board do differently if it were running a “for-profit” organization while still maintaining strong relationship and spiritual elements found in congregations?

And my added question — With these questions answered, what should you now be doing to make your board and congregation into a stronger organization?

Bill Zelazny, District Executive (BCD in Brief, 2/2003)