I don’t recall where I heard this first, perhaps from Simone Joyaux, but I love the phrase:

“No one wakes up and decides they want to be a bad board member.”

As you go through your day today, remember that most board members are earnestly trying to help your nonprofit succeed. If may not feel like they’re helping but it’s more helpful to come at it from that perspective than to think they’re attacking you.

• If they’re attacking you, your natural response is defensive. Blocking.
• If they’re sincerely trying to help, your natural response is to lead them to a path that is truly helpful. Redirecting.

Shrewd, strategic redirecting is a much nicer way to live than constant, defensive blocking.

Try it today.

One way board members try helping nonprofits is in the area of fundraising. But most people do not realize that fundraising is a profession, complete with best practices, metrics, and analysis. That’s why I created Fundraising 101. Built for busy board members, Fundraising 101 gives them the basics to be truly helpful in your nonprofits fundraising. I even give them homework, including the minute-by-minute plan for holding a house party. The course is open now but closes this Friday. You can get it at: http://101.fundraisingcoach.com/.