The recovery period from one flawed nomination cycle may take years and have significant adverse impact on the organization.It’s no surprise, then, that the nomination process for board and leadership positions is an essential step in maintaining effective board and organizational leadership.

Too often the nomination and election cycles are activities that receive insufficient attention from members and are managed by a relatively small number of committee members. When the process works well it is given little attention or commendation, but, when it does not work as intended, the results are seen as no one’s responsibility. 

The Kushner Companies assists organizations as they repeatedly enter this challenging arena. Dedicating specific advisory services relating to the nominations and election process was an idea born from David Kushner’s more-than-35-years of board experience. His theory is that helping organizations effectively deal with this sensitive set of tasks will provide long-term value for the group and its members.

What is the value of seeking outside advice on your nomination process? You may have heard someone ask “Can an ‘outsider’ possibly understand our organizational politics well enough to be of help?” The answer is - Yes. 

The perspectives of an experienced professional in the field with many years of board interaction and governance work can save a board from making the same mistakes as others - always a valuable outcome. A fresh set of eyes looking over your nomination and election processes without political bias can be quite revealing. Correcting ineffective systems and processes before damage is done will help advance the goals of the organization in many ways.

This type of consultation process can be done in a variety of ways, each customized to your needs. From a detailed review of documentation and timelines, to board and staff interviews, or member surveys about satisfaction with or understanding of the process, we will assess the entire spectrum of activities and provide specific options for your consideration and implementation. 

Client Services include:

• Refining the nomination process
• Assessment of nomination procedures and documentation
• Review and analysis of bylaws, nominations process documentation and timelines with report including comparison to best practices 
• Conducting confidential interviews with board members and officers to gain their perspectives 
• Conducting member surveys/interviews to measure understanding and satisfaction with processes and perceived obstacles to becoming a nominee
• Presentations for board and new member orientation programs to increase understanding of the value of an effective nomination process

For more information:

• Article: Strategic and Leadership Planning
• Case study:  Association Leadership Sought Outside Review of Nominations Process to Increase Qualified Candidate Recruitment