Are you a registered social housing provider struggling to find board members?
With new regulations and a constantly evolving housing landscape, the role of board members has never been more significant. Serving as a board member in the housing sector is no easy task. It’s not a traditional employment role, yet it requires a level of dedication that surpasses that of a volunteer, those who take on such responsibilities most often must have a delicate balance of skills, knowledge, and dedication, all focused on improving social housing standards. Achieving this balance is a challenging task, but with well-defined selection criteria and strategic planning, organisations can attract and retain individuals who are eager to invest their time and expertise in advancing the mission of social housing providers.
Wanting to recruit Board Members who are also tenants or have ‘lived experience’ adds another level of complexity to this challenging task.Boards with lived experience offer a unique and practical perspective, giving you a strategic advantage. What can we do to improve our recruitment of these Board Members?
For housing associations striving to recruit and retain board members, we have created Board and Customer Committee Members training designed to empower participants with fundamental knowledge and skills, helping them to contribute meaningfully to their organisation’s success by offering a structured and comprehensive program tailored to support the onboarding and skill development of board members, especially those with lived experience as tenants.
Demystifying the Role: The complexities involved in serving on a board can be quite daunting for many prospective candidates. Often, individuals struggle to understand the essence of the role itself. To combat this, it’s important to provide clarity by breaking down responsibilities into simpler terms, enabling potential board members to envision their potential contributions. Share, early on, what a typical ‘day’ looks like and what skills they need to perform.
Fostering Confidence: To overcome the sense of intimidation that can stem from feeling outmatched by the expertise of fellow board members, a key approach is to prioritize training. By equipping tenant board members with a comprehensive understanding of their roles and responsibilities, training not only dispels intimidation but also instills the confidence needed to effectively engage in discussions, understand detailed reports, and navigate industry-specific jargon.
Empowering Constructive Contributions: In the realm of effective communication, there exists a valuable skill known as the art of constructive challenging. This skill plays a pivotal role in situations that demand attention and tact. Constructive challenges can torch conversations and encourage diverse viewpoints, ultimately leading to impactful decisions. Imagine a scenario where addressing critical issues is paramount, but fear of conflict or misunderstanding hinders open dialogue, this is where the concept of constructive challenging shines. It entails voicing viewpoints in a manner that encourages productive conversations while fostering growth, even amidst complex or contentious topics. It is important to note that constructive challenging is not an innate ability but rather a skill that can be learnt, honed, and refined through training and mentoring. By developing this skill, tenant board members can become agents of change, fostering a culture where candid discussions can flourish.
What's In It For Them?
The value proposition of being a board member extends far beyond adding the role to the tenant’s CV. It’s an experience that unearths skills, nurtures confidence, and forges connections that echo through the corridors of professional growth.
As they embark on this role, they not only enhance their community but also their personal and professional growth. One of these skills, often considered intimidating, is understanding financial balance sheets. This ability is not just a boardroom asset; it can extend into the domain of personal financial management and be useful in handling budgets in management roles in tenants’ work lives.
When it comes to recruiting tenant board members, it’s important to remember that tenants want to bring value to the Board, as much as you want them to.
