More big ideas
It's been great to see the discussion of big ideas spread out among the association blogging community--thanks to all who have participated so far!
Here are two more Big Ideas posts that you should definitely check out:
- Jamie Notter asks, "What if only you could change associations?" (Think Smokey the Bear.) Jamie says, "For all the valuable thinking we do about improving associations, the actual behavior change we engage in as a community is fairly pathetic. ... I ask you to actually change what you're doing in ways that support our lofty visions for an evolved association community. Pick something, and do it." What could you do to take Jamie up on his challenge?
- Eric Lanke wonders, "What if associations allowed their CEOs to be board chairs?" Here's a big idea I never would have thought of, but it's a fascinating concept. Borrowing from some ongoing discussions he's seen about for-profit companies' governance, Eric asks, "Are companies better run when a single person holds both the position of CEO and Board Chair, or when two different people--with different skill sets--each hold one of those positions and work together as a leadership team?" Head over to the Hourglass Blog and see what he has to say!
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Comments
Profit is not the measure we should use to determine the viability of the combined CEO/Chair model.
Keeping the positions separate provides accountability that is often missing in for-profit companies.
A combined CEO/Chair is more likely to dominate the Board and acquire greater opportunity to take inappropriate, unilateral action on association matters. Boards rarely step in to stop that until the damage is already done.
You can be a strong CEO without being the Chair.
Posted by: David M. Patt, CAE | December 10, 2009 12:14 PM