A good board member is a devoted volunteer who understands their responsibilities as a spokesperson for the association, its members and its mission. They are not afraid to ask difficult questions and impart their knowledge to other board members and assume the role of a leader within committees. They also look for opportunities to improve their governance methods and develop new skills through workshops and classes in leadership.

A good board member is aware of the commitment to time required to serve on the board. They plan ahead and make it a goal to attend all board and committee meetings. They participate in committee assignments and provide assistance and feedback when needed. They also search for ways of making the board more efficient, like using tools such www.boardroomparty.com/5-characteristics-that-make-a-great-board-member/ as scheduling software and platforms that allow simple document sharing.

The ability to exercise good judgement is the most important quality of a successful member of the board. They don’t let small-scale issues derail a board meeting or distract from the organisation’s mission. They can see the big overall picture and provide a perspective from afar that is crucial in making a decision. They also have a clear understanding of the entire industry which influences strategies, M&A opportunities, hiring and firing, fundraising, legal issues and organizational design decisions. A good sense of judgment requires a lot of experience, cultivated through experience in difficult situations, gaining knowledge from failures, and intuition. Without it, board members can be a liability to your company.