Board members don't usually have ill intent when they engage with their organization's staff. However, well-meaning involvement can drift into meddling. These are ten questions board members should ask themselves to determine whether they’re appropriately carrying out their oversight role or unintentionally stepping into staff territory.

The Top 10 Questions to Ask Yourself

10: Am I crossing into operational matters rather than staying focused on governance and policy?

9: Is my communication helping or hindering the chain of command?

8: Could my interaction be perceived as micromanagement?

7: Am I unintentionally influencing staff decisions outside of board directives?

6: Have I checked with the board chair or executive leadership before engaging with staff?

5: Would I be comfortable if my interaction were made public or shared with the full board?

4: Am I setting a precedent that could lead to other board members doing the same, creating confusion for staff?

3: Have I considered the effect of my interaction on staff morale and decision-making?

2: Am I acting on behalf of the full board or just expressing my own views?

1: Do I trust the executive leadership to manage staff, or am I stepping in due to my own discomfort or impatience?

Are You a Meddling Board Member?

For my money, the top question is whether you trust executive leadership. Your meddling in staff affairs shows that you do not. And if staff pulls you in too much, it signals they do not trust their executive leadership either.

Ethics are the way we make decisions. Why meddling in staff affairs is not necessarily right or wrong, meddling does indicate how (and why) we make certain decisions.

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