The Problems of Community Management – What Doesn’t Work?

Clearly, if the above pre-conditions do not exist, there can be significant problems in community management. These can be divided into:

1. Board composition

There can be a lack of leadership in the Board. The chair or president may simply not have the skills to take the organization forward, to motivate Board members and ensure that Board review and engagement are on target.
Concomitantly, it may be very difficult to recruit
Board members are unclear about their responsibilities or do not take their role seriously. They are out of their depth in fulfilling their role.
There is an ‘in-group’ that has effective control of the Board.
There is a high turnover among Board members leading to instability and lack of continuity. Conversely, if Board members never leave there can be stagnation. I used to joke that Board members in one organization in which I worked left their positions to their sons in their will!

The Board is unaware of its risk profile and has no mechanism for identifying and managing risk.
There is a lack of enthusiasm within the Board to take the organization forward; Board members are bored members.
There is no manual outlining board processes and expectations.
The Board has no capacity to deal with crises or changed circumstance or alternatively the Board is in a perpetual state of crisis.
The Board is viewed poorly in the community or has no profile.

Relationships between Board and staff are not harmonious; there is conflict between the Board and members of the organization and unresolved conflict between Board members.
Communication is poor – between Board members and between employees, management and the Board