Governance as Leadership: Reframing the Work of Nonprofit Boards [Hardcover]

Richard P. Chait (Author), William P. Ryan (Author), Barbara E. Taylor (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471684201 | ISBN-13: 978-0471684206 | Publication Date: October 22, 2004 | Edition: 1

A new framework for helping nonprofit organizations maximize the effectiveness of their boards.

Written by noted consultants and researchers attuned to the needs of practitioners, Governance as Leadership redefines nonprofit governance. It provides a powerful framework for a new covenant between trustees and executives: more macrogovernance in exchange for less micromanagement.

Informed by theories that have transformed the practice of organizational leadership, this book sheds new light on the traditional fiduciary and strategic work of the board and introduces a critical third dimension of effective trusteeship: generative governance. It serves boards as both a resource of fresh approaches to familiar territory and a lucid guide to important new territory, and provides a road map that leads nonprofit trustees and executives to governance as leadership.

Governance as Leadership was developed in collaboration with BoardSource, the premier resource for practical information, tools and best practices, training, and leadership development for board members of nonprofit organizations. Through its highly acclaimed programs and services, BoardSource enables organizations to fulfill their missions by helping build effective nonprofit boards and offering credible support in solving tough problems. For the latest in nonprofit governance, visit www.boardsource.org, or call us at 1-800-883-6262.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Governance as Leadership remains necessary reading for its intended audience as well as for the academic audience at large." (The Journal of Higher Education; Nov/Dec 2007)

From the Inside Flap

Governance as Leadership offers trustees and executives a new and practical framework to govern nonprofit organizations more effectively. The book provides ideas, tactics, and examples that enrich the work of trustees and enhance a board’s value to the organization it governs.

The authors reframe the purpose and practice of nonprofit governance by drawing on theories that have reshaped the concept and practice of leadership. In contrast to conventional advice that unwittingly urges trustees to think and govern like managers, the authors’ new approach invites boards to think and govern like leaders.

Governance as Leadership describes three modes of governance–fiduciary, strategic, and generative–that together enable effective trusteeship. While the first two are more familiar to most boards, trustees often overlook opportunities to be a source of leadership as well as a source of advice, expertise, and fundraising. Most important, the book explains the power and payoff to organizations and boards when trustees govern in the generative mode–the most neglected yet most consequential type of work a board can do.

When trustees gain proficiency in all three modes, the board practices governance as leadership. The trustees discover and do meaningful work, and the organization derives maximum benefit from a previously underutilized resource.

Written by noted researchers and consultants, Governance as Leadership introduces a fresh way to think about governance with sensible guidance to turn these ideas into concrete actions. It will be particularly valuable to trustees and senior staff of professionally managed nonprofit organizations, as well as many others, including foundation officers, donors, consultants, and students of nonprofit organizations who are interested in improving nonprofit governance.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (October 22, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471684201
• ISBN-13: 978-0471684206
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,229 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Nonprofit Organizations & Charities

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Governance as Leadership, September 6, 2005

By 

Eva I. Booker (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Governance as Leadership: Reframing the Work of Nonprofit Boards (Hardcover)

I found this book to be a breath of fresh air. It offers a new way of looking at nonprofit boards, in a relatively short, easy to read manner. There is a wealth of information designed to help nonprofit boards of directors become more effective. Unfortunately, existing approaches have been less than successful with most boards. This book identifies the problem as one of purpose rather than performance.

The book identifies three modes that boards of directors can operate in: the traditional fiduciary mode, the strategic mode and the generative mode. The authors emphasize the importance of encouraging board members to engage in generative thinking. Engaging board members in this way makes their work more meaningful and satisfying, while at the same time benefiting the organization through more creative, committed leadership. It suggests signs to look for to identify opportunities for generative thinking.

Another interesting new concept discussed in the book is considering directors as a form of "working capital". This is further broken down into intellectual capital, reputational capital, political capital and social capital. Again, this new framework for looking at what board members have to offer increases the opportunities for them to make meaningful contributions to the organization.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Governance as Leadership, July 3, 2008

By 

Alice Herschel ""Blur"" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Governance as Leadership: Reframing the Work of Nonprofit Boards (Hardcover)

Sounds,looks and feels like a stuffy book. But wait, it reads like a spy novel; it is filled with current scenarios, practical insight, new ideas and wisdom to help your board service be a fulfilling use of your time. If you are a board member or work with volunteer boards, this is worth a read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice frame for viewing board activities and impact, June 14, 2009

By 

Paul Konasewich "see my blog on Social Enterp... (San Mateo, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Governance as Leadership: Reframing the Work of Nonprofit Boards (Hardcover)

An interesting and easy read about governance. Sometimes the language used is grand, but don't let that get in your way. At the end of the day these are people who have seen many challenges of not-for-profit orgs.

This book is particularly interesting if you find yourself on a highly tactical board, wondering "What impact am I actually having?" The authors very nicely lay out and distinguish three types of activities, which I might call "tactical," "governance," and "big picture strategy." For the third one there is more to it; read the book for more.

This book helped encourage me to shift my activities to a more strategic level, where my efforts as a board member make more of a difference. It's a great investigation into the question "What are we here to do?"