Are your new board members set up for success from day one? In this episode, Jennifer Drago, host of the Senior Living Visionaries podcast, discusses the importance of proper board orientation for new members. She emphasizes that a well-structured orientation process provides a solid foundation, enhances board member engagement, and retains them longer. Drago cites a 2017 study by George Mason University and Heidrich and Struggles, revealing only 45% of organizations have a defined onboarding process and only 46% feel prepared for their roles.

Key components of effective orientation include sharing the mission, vision, and strategic plans; defining roles and responsibilities; and addressing governance vs. management distinctions. Drago also highlights the importance of understanding financial and legal obligations, fundraising expectations, and building relationships. She suggests ongoing education and engagement through site visits, volunteer opportunities, and social events to maintain board members' involvement and effectiveness.

Ready to strengthen your board? ✅Download the free Board Orientation Checklist, "Onboarding for Impact: The Essential Checklist for Nonprofit Board Orientation," at https://bit.ly/4adTGxK.

Have questions or feedback? Email Jennifer at jennifer@peaktoprofit.com.

About Our Host:

Jennifer Drago is an award-winning strategist, author, speaker and certified business coach. Through Peak to Profit consulting, she helps senior living, healthcare and nonprofit organizations get clear on their vision and strategy so they can identify -- and execute on -- opportunities for growth, revenue and operational efficiencies.

Jennifer worked as a strategy and operations executive in the healthcare and senior living industries for 30 years, facilitating strategic plans and developing new programs and service lines. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance, a master’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s degree in Health Services Administration from Arizona State University.

Visit http://seniorlivingvisionaries.com/ or our sponsor, https://www.peaktoprofit.com/, to learn more!

You can also follow Jennifer on her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdrago/

About the Show:

Senior Living Visionaries is a podcast that brings together innovative leaders and forward-thinkers in senior living to share insights, strategies, and inspiring stories that shape the future of the industry. The show regularly features best practices in the boardroom to strengthen nonprofit governance, offering practical advice and bold ideas to empower professionals and organizations to thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape.

👍Subscribe to be notified of new episodes of Senior Living Visionaries as they are published! https://www.peaktoprofit.com/podcast-subscribe.

🎤Know someone who would make a great guest on the Senior Living Visionaries podcast? Apply here: https://airtable.com/appCRz6ksoivW5dzI/shrH2VSWVCXg4KMeH.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 130: Onboarding for Impact: Best Practices to Orient New Board Members