Board members as committee liaisons?

Should board members serve as liaisons to board committees? Sometimes organizations believe this will help the board keep up to date on what is going on with members or different parts of the organization. We find that board members as liaisons to committees is often a substitute for good internal communications systems. We also believe that in most cases the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

Here are a few things to think about:

• Asking board members to also be committee liaisons can be time intensive and time is limited. Can someone do both jobs well?
• Creative thought is valuable. Is it possible that a board members opinion will truncate new thinking?
• People have their own personal beliefs. Will such beliefs serve as a filter in what is communicated?
• Leadership development is key to the future.Will the board member be taking up space that should go to still evolving talent?
• Associations are designed to be collaborative and democratic. Will members perceive that a small group is trying to control everything?
• The board is entrusted with oversight across all programs. Will participation on a committee create a set of topical constituencies on the board?
• Staff members support committees. Will inappropriate staff/board member alliances be an inadvertent result of the liaison strategy?
• Chairs are expected to lead committee work. Will committee members defer to the board member?

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