Head Heart Board Connection: Mid-Year Check In

Written by: Thyonne Gordon, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor
Antioch College
AABLI alumna, Class #3

Celebrations are in the air these days: Graduations. Juneteenth. Fourth of July. But let’s not overlook our celebration of how far we’ve come with our boards and organizations.

When participating in board work, we don’t always take note of the journey. What has your board accomplished over the past six months?  Do a mid-year check-in to celebrate your successes and to make sure you’re on track for what’s ahead.

Here are three mid-year tips for your check-in.

1. Use board surveys:  Board surveys are a great way to assess how the board feels aboutits work, collectively and individually.  A self-assessment after every meeting would give board members a chance to peer into the mirror and judge their effectiveness for themselves. Sample surveys can be found at BoardSource and used for group and individual dynamics.  The surveys are particularly helpful during a mid-year meeting, to check in on how the team is doing.  They are a fantastic way to open the conversation around the table and see how people feel about the work at hand.
2. Benchmark your success:  Whether at work or play,benchmarks help you see how far you’ve come and how far you have to go.  If you haven’t done a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) for the year, set one during your mid-year point, then benchmark throughout the rest of the year.  Setting a mid-year goal positions you for end of the year success.
3. AskThree Questions That Count:  Ask your board three questions at the mid-year point to get them thinking about where you’ve been, where you are and where you’re headed. These questions can be as simple as:
   1. What lessons have we learned so far?
   2. What’s the biggest change we want for the rest of the year?
   3. What do we need to know?

With these questions, chart your end of the year goals or make sure you’re on track with those you set at the start of the year.  Asking questions always challenges teams to think and dig deeper.  More often than not, teams will rise to the challenge with interesting insights about ways to improve and move forward.

Mid-year is a great time to recommit to your board service.  If you haven’t committed to a board, this is a great time to begin your search!  While you’re at it, check in with AABLI. We delight in hearing about you and your board work.

This blog is not written by aabli.org or The African American Board Leadership Institute. The author is solely responsible for the content.