Author: Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker, Literacy Texas Executive Director
The Literacy Texas Board of Directors recently met for an annual retreat. Because our board members represent several different regions, it’s a rare opportunity for us to all join together in person, and we always look forward to it.
As we often do, several of us met in the hotel restaurant the night before our workshop, to catch up on life. At some point, the conversation shifted to Literacy Texas, and I shared about an obstacle our organization has been struggling with for more than two years.
That’s when our casual chat turned into a think tank that gave me exactly the insight I needed to solve the problem. Being so close to the issue every day made me unable to see it from a different angle, but the fresh perspective they brought made all of the difference.
Later that night, I had a hard time falling asleep. “Why didn’t I think of that?” Giving myself grace has never been my strong suit.
While I was thrilled to finally have a solution to my problem, I was also frustrated with myself for not leaning into the wisdom of my board sooner.
I learned two valuable lessons from this situation.
First, it’s important for non-profit leaders and instructors to realize that we don’t have to have all of the answers. Oftentimes those of us who work in education are high achievers, and we generally enjoy solving complex problems. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves. However, it’s important that we realize that there are a lot of other high achievers serving alongside you in your organization. Pull others in and fast track your success.
Second, tap into the power of your board members. They’re a valuable part of our teams, and I think they’re greatly underutilized in helping organizations find success. I encourage you to create a board member matrix in order to know what knowledge, skills, experiences, or resources you have at your fingertips. This is also helpful in identifying gaps in your board so you know who to invite next. Ensuring that your board represents a variety of assets can be helpful for your organization.
Moving forward, I’m going to challenge myself to make an intentional effort to pull others into the work and better engage my board members in brainstorming sessions. I don’t want to leave any opportunities on the table, and they truly want to be helpful. I know it’s up to me to let them help. When leaders in organizations and boards work together to push forward the organization’s mission, adult learners reap the benefits.
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