A board with members who are difficult can pose a significant challenge to the effectiveness and cohesion of the board. Although it’s tempting to let the problem slide in the hope that the person will mend their ways or depart when their time is up however, this is not an effective strategy. It’s more likely that the behaviour will persist, and then become more prominent. This will have a negative impact on the rest of board members, making it more difficult to perform their responsibilities.

Direct intervention is a way to confront difficult board members. Begin by inviting them to a one-on-one meeting with the chairperson or someone that they hold in https://theboardmeeting.blog/how-do-you-keep-up-with-trends-in-your-industry high regard and would be willing to listen to, in order to explain the problems with their behaviour. Determine what is behind their behavior, such as an uneasy feeling of not being valued or heard by the other board members. It is essential to have an objective in mind. For instance, their behavior needs to change. This will stop the conversation from becoming an argument or confrontation.

If the person is not taken to task in an individual conversation it can be helpful to bring the issue to the attention of the other board members in a collective intervention. This is a great opportunity for the chairperson to show that they are open to all input and that they are not afraid to confront problematic behaviors. Additionally, it is crucial to keep a record of the discussion so that when you come back to the group, you can brief them on any new information you have collected.