This book offers seven rules for the chief executive to lead by, and to follow: 

1. Make mission matter. Cultivate the board’s passion for the mission; board members will be excited about the organization’s work and dedicated to the cause. 

2. Know the organization. Inspire the board’s confidence by understanding the organization from the inside out — history, organizational culture, public perceptions, and community context. 

3. Cultivate relationships. It’s up to the chief executive to build habits and interactions that engage and involve the board in a constructive partnership. 

4. Inform and communicate. Prepare board members for success by absorbing information, sharing it, and understanding the magic of real communication. 

5. Facilitate a balance in roles and responsibilities. Clearly articulated expectations and constructive feedback help both board members and the chief executive hold up their ends of the partnership. 

6. Structure the board’s work. When the chief executive provides board members with an understanding of the organization and a process for the board’s activities, it is easier for board members to be fully involved. 

7. Plan for transitions. Have a plan in place and resources to turn to when either the board chair or chief executive position vacates. This allows the organization to keep the focus on the mission versus the crisis of leadership. 

The board chair plays a critical role in developing a successful partnership between the executive and the board. Because open communication between the board chair and the chief executive is essential, each chapter of this book includes two firstperson essays related to aspects of the chapter’s theme: one from a board chair’s perspective and one from a chief executive’s. The chair’s perspectives provide the board angle regarding specific topics, so that chief executives might take away a lesson or tip for the future in understanding why the board thinks or acts in a certain way. The chief executive’s stories offer personal experiences from the field to bring the issues in each chapter to life.