Trustees – Your CEO needs you!

The fresh round of attacks on charity CEO’s level of pay saddens me (link below). It is another example of people not getting modern charities. It seems it is OK to be paid to turn a profit for shareholders but not if you set out to tackle society’s ills. I get to meet lots of charity CEOs in my work and they are doing a tough job that should be appreciated. Tougher now than ever as the demand for help and support is on the rise (rises in debt, housing shortages, increased mental illness ...) and there are reduced resources to respond due to funding cuts. 

The pressure is on to continue the charity’s work, support staff, fundraise and plan ahead in these circumstances. Charity CEOs are often lonely. They need to reassure their staff teams who are stretched and worried about their jobs. And they need to present their Trustee Board with solutions and options. Where do they get to rant, moan, talk through new ideas and share their worries?

When I meet with charity CEOs, I ask them about the support they get. Some will speak highly of their Chair or other Trustees. But some tell me that managing their Trustees is another difficult task on their long list.

So what can Trustees do?

1. First recognise that the burden and responsibility for staff jobs and the charity’s continued existence rests heavily on the CEO’s shoulders. Even though Trustees are technically responsible, they have collective responsibility and can leave at any time. It is not their paid job. 
2. Support the CEO. Create a culture where the CEO can make mistakes, bounce ideas around and admit to having concerns or fears.
3. Ensure the CEO has regular supervision, external supervision, a coach or mentor. That they have sufficient capacity to get out of the charity to meet with peers, learn and take proper holidays. There are excellent peer support groups out there like Ella Forums (link below) and people like myself offer support.
4. Share the load – not interfering with the day to day running, but asking what help is needed and being proactive with assistance such as telling staff bad news or contingency planning difficult ‘what if’ scenarios.

I am sure there are other ways Trustees are and can step up. If you are a Trustee, let me know what you do. And if you are a charity CEO, tell me what you need.

http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/news/content/19800/sun_launches_fresh_attack_against_charity_sector_over_chief_executive_pay

http://www.ella-forums.org/

https://twitter.com/emmabeeston01