THRIVERS: Impact-Driven Leadership for the Next Normal

Drawing Out (and Leaning Into) the Best of Your Board


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Have you ever struggled with striking the right balance with your board's involvement in your mission?

Encouraging your board to maintain their strategic focus, without veering into operational territories, or dictating the “how”, can be difficult to navigate

The truth is that nonprofits are at their best when leaders can draw out and lean into the best of their boards. Figuring out how to do this is often easier said than done.

In this episode of THRIVERS, Tucker and Sarah pull back the curtain on an immersive two-hour session they facilitated with a community nonprofit board, aiming to rekindle their commitment, involvement, and enthusiasm for the cause. This session  was specifically tailored to amplify involvement, stir a sense of purpose, and align both old and new members with the organization's overarching vision.

They walked the board members through the following steps:

  • Unearthing the deeper motivations behind each board member's decision to join. 
  • Reflecting on the board's history to identify and capitalize on their strengths, particularly concerning revenue and tangible impact.
  • An imaginative exercise on impact forecasting—projecting the transformative outcomes envisioned three years ahead.
  • Strategically brainstorming on gathering the necessary resources to turn envisioned impact into reality.
  • Individual board members determine their specific roles, harnessing their unique passions to further the organization's goals.
  • Laying out clear, measurable objectives for the upcoming 6-12 months, establishing both direction and accountability.
  • An introspective wrap-up, allowing board members to appreciate their renewed commitment and the profound nature of their discussions.


You can jump ahead to any of those steps here:

  • (00:00) - Intro
  • (04:58) - Step One
  • (10:02) - Step Two
  • (20:19) - Step Three
  • (25:17) - Step Four
  • (32:17) - Step Five
  • (34:45) - Step Six
  • (38:58) - Step Seven
  • (44:50) - Outro

  • Tune into this episode to learn practical steps you can take to energize your board around your organization’s purpose.

    Listener Links/Resources:


    Image of the Impact Cycle

    Link to the Impact Forecasting podcast


    Looking for ways to increase your impact in your communities and causes?
    We've created a modular series of workshops focused on creating impact from the inside out. Explore details and schedule a discovery session at thriveimpact.org/insideout

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    THRIVERS: Impact-Driven Leadership for the Next NormalBy THRIVE IMPACT

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