Behind the Curtain: Personality Test Predicaments, Handling Top-Down Decisions with Board
“Behind the Curtain: Association Chat’s Anonymous Confessions” is a series where we delve into the real, anonymized stories and challenges from within our community. These posts offer a revealing look into the hurdles faced by association professionals, illuminating the often hidden aspects of their work. Authors are able to submit their questions anonymously on the Association Chat private group and see how people respond.
In this Behind the Curtain installment, we explore the challenges of dealing with decisions made by the President without full board approval. A seasoned professional shares their concerns about a new direction being taken without consensus, sparking a discussion on collaborative leadership.
Some Responses from the Community
- “I’ve seen various assessments (DiSC, Meyer-Briggs, Predictive Index, Strength Finders) used with boards over the years. It doesn’t sound uncommon to help each other understand each other to work together. As the board needs to build relationships and trust with each other, this can be a way do to that. I don’t see any issue with it. I’ve had board members inquire if we could do it and didn’t see any issue.”
- “I agree and feel like if it helps strengthen that working relationship between the ED and the incoming president, then it’s a win win situation as long as it’s a reasonable expense that the board is okay with. I also agree with having a facilitator to walk the board through the results.”
- “Love working genius. It’s easy and fast. It gave me really great insight into my team. It’s by Lencioni.”
- “I would suggest Kolbe and Strengths finder over “personality” assessments. They’re skewed based on coping mechanisms and how people want to be perceived.”
Anonymous Added Clarification
Responses from the Community
- “Anonymous member I’m surprised people are missing this point…this is a red flag and the start of potential “slippery slope” where prez thinks they have unilateral control….this is a governance question at the core.”
- “I would also become curious with the president. How do they intend to use it. Is it for the whole board. With[sic] there be someone who can walk everyone through results so it is understood and utilized? And although I’ve never done this with my board, I love the idea..it can really help communicating. And for reference, I’ve been in the industry 30 years and a cae 20+.”
Readers, what would you suggest for our anonymous member?
Engaging Questions for Association Professionals
- How would you address a situation where a leader makes a significant decision without board consensus?
- What strategies have you found effective in promoting collaborative decision-making in your organization?
- Have you ever faced a similar scenario where a top-down decision impacted board dynamics? How did you handle it?
- What are your thoughts on balancing the need for decisive leadership with the importance of board approval?
- In your experience, how can open communication be fostered between board members and executive leaders to prevent unilateral decisions?
Dive into the unfiltered realities encountered by your peers and join the conversation in our exclusive, members-only Facebook group, Association Chat. This is your space for advice, experience sharing, and open dialogue in a supportive community.
*CAE Domains Referenced: Domain 1: Governance, Domain 2: Executive Leadership
More to Love
Join the conversation at Association Chat (Facebook Group or LinkedIn) and share your own insights and lessons. Let’s continue to nurture this community!
[How I used generative AI in this article: I used ChatGPT 4 to review my draft article and make recommendations on potential headlines and also for identifying potential questions for association professionals to ask themselves after reading the challenge presented. I then edited and modified some of the recommendations that ChatGPT 4 made. As always, all of the mediocre writing and obnoxious viewpoints are 100% my own.]
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