One Bad Apple
Remember the old Osmond Brothers song that goes “one bad apple don’t spoil the whole bunch, girl.”
I know, I’m dating myself, but before he hosted Million Dollar Pyramid, Donny Osmond sang, first with his brothers than with his sister, Marie, from the NutraSystem commercials. But I digress.
Well, the Osmonds got it wrong. One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch, especially when that bad apple sits on your board.
Toxic or destructive board members can derail the entire board and the organization. These board members who seek to control the agenda or other board members, make derogatory comments, make sexist or racist remarks, or otherwise hinder the free exchange of ideas.
What can you do if you have a bad apple on your board?
1. Set term limits. That way, at worst you have to deal with this person for only a set number of years. Term limits give you an “easy” way to thank people for their board service and move them on. They also provide a set time when you should evaluate their service and decide if you want to invite their continued service.
2. Enforce term limits. Too often, boards fear letting a member go. But few board members sign up for a lifetime appointment and, if you have a bad apple, that person hurts your organization. Enforce the term limit and let him or her go.
3. Ensure you can remove board members. Your bylaws should include unacceptable behaviors and a process for removing board members when needed.
4. Scrutinize during recruitment. Good board membership begins during recruitment. Get an honest assessment of the prospect’s personality and tendencies. Ask for references and talk to people who served with them on other boards to get a feel for their M.O. Finally, give them an honest appraisal of what you expect from board members.
5. Hold them accountable. If you have a board member who steps out of line, the board chair should have a frank conversation with them about their behavior and its unacceptability. When selecting a board chair, make sure this person knows that this responsibility falls under their purview and that they readily accept it. (They don’t have to like it!)
6. Remove destructive board members. Even if they have not completed their term, you will likely lose many more good board members if they feel belittled, unheard, or otherwise under-valued because of the bad apple. Hard as it may seem at the time, the organization will benefit in the long run.
I have worked with boards that have bad apples. One told me that once their bad apple left the board, the entire mood and culture of the board changed from highly dysfunctional to very functional – and in only a matter of months! You can’t afford not to make a change.