As a board member, one of your most important tasks is to hire and evaluate the executive director. Yet many board members find themselves unprepared when faced with an unplanned transition. The board chair often receives a phone call from a leader who has just accepted another opportunity; even if there is a succession plan in place, it can be difficult to know how to proceed.
The first step is to acknowledge that an executive director search is not any ordinary hire: it’s a pivotal opportunity to shape the vision for your organization’s future. The way you respond to the news of an executive’s departure can shape the future of the search and the organization, inspiring confidence and setting forth a vision.
This checklist will help get your search off on the right foot, to engage and align your stakeholders and pave the way for future leadership.