278: Expert Tips on Nonprofit Board Chair & Executive Director Relationships

In this episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership, host Sarah Olivieri welcomes Mary Hiland, creator of the podcast and an expert in nonprofit board and leadership development. With over four decades of experience, Mary shares insights and best practices for fostering effective relationships between nonprofit board chairs and executive directors. The conversation covers common challenges, trust-building behaviors, and key competencies for board chairs. Mary also highlights the importance of proactive recruitment and succession planning for leadership roles. Tune in for valuable advice and strategies to enhance your nonprofit's impact. Episode Highlights Challenges in Board Chair and Executive Director Relationships Research Insights on Effective Board/ED Relationships Building Trust Between the Board and ED Key Competencies for Board Chairs Recruitment and Succession Planning Executive Committees and Modern Board Practices Meet the Guest Mary Hiland, Ph.D. is a nonprofit board and leadership development consultant dedicated to assisting nonprofit executives lead effectively with their boards and to help board members unleash their full potential for mission-impact. Mary has over forty years' experience in the nonprofit sector – both as an executive and as a board member. As an executive, she grew her nonprofit from $100K to $26 mil. and led two mergers. She has been consulting and coaching for 20 years, working with several hundred nonprofits, including associations. Mary is a speaker, published author, researcher, and a professor at DeAnza Community College. She is author of the best-selling book: Love Your Board! The Executive Directors' Guide to Discovering the Sources of Nonprofit Board Troubles and What to Do About Them (2021) and is a contributing author to four other nonprofit leadership and governance books. Mary's Ph.D. research focused on nonprofit leadership and governance and she has three Masters' Degrees: social work, public administration, and organizational development. And, Mary was the founder and host for five years of the Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Podcast. Connect with Mary: https://hilandconsulting.org (website) linkedin.in.maryland Giveaway: https://hilandconsulting.org/6stepsreport (6 Steps You Must Know to Unleash the Potential of Your Nonprofit Board) My book: Love Your Board! The Executive Directors' Guide to Discovering the Sources of Nonprofit Board Troubles and What to Do About Them Sponsored Resource Join the Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Newsletter for weekly tips and inspiration for leading your nonprofit! Access it here >> Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn. Connect with Sarah: On LinkedIn>> On Facebook>> Subscribe on YouTube>>