b'DAYTODAYRIPPLESHerb SmithPartners in Ministry Improving your board relationship with Ripple EffectW elcome to Ripplesour new board- doubts about your performance, work with the focused column based on best prac- styles and gifts God has given you to manage the tices from Citygate Networks Rippleorganization, lead the staff, and serve your guests Effect board acceleration program. Whether youvewith excellence, compassion, and sound judgment.been a part of the program or not, our goal is toHow are you doing with this most important provide you with strategic ideas to improve boardrelationship?relationships, createConsider these suggestions: sound policies, and set up your ministry to1.Meet regularly for prayer, personal reflection, thrive now and into and organizational business. the future.2.Enjoy a meal or coffee together. Principle one: The3.Golf, work out, attend a sporting event together board chair and CEO do something you both enjoy. must establish and maintain an encourag- 4.Share together a good book like Mission Drift ing and effectiveor something on leadership. relationship. Together you articulate and execute5.Share your greatest success and challenge since the boards strategic vision and policies.your last meeting. Solid relationships will carry you through the most challenging times. God calls us to keep short6.Update each other on your families or other accounts with each other: be partners in ministry,outside interests. be united in Christ, and be bonded by the missionRemember, Nobody cares how much you know Herb is Citygate Networksto which He has called you. until they know how much you care. Director of Member Advance Board chair: Are you wresting with a challeng- Finally, consider joining us for Ripple Effect ment and has served in the pasting board? Its your problem to solve, not theFebruary 23, 2023. It might just transform your as Citygate Networks boardCEOs. However, you should both openly shareboard and your ministry. Take it from Michael chair. With 20plus years serving first as CFO and then CEOconcerns about relational challenges within theBrown, president/CEO of Kalamazoo Gospel for the Los Angeles Mission,board, with a heart toward healing divisions. TheMinistries: Ripple Effect has taken our board Herb has a rich history provid relationship between the board chair and CEO isfrom being a good board to being a great board ing business leadership and mission operations. He and histhe most important relationship in your ministry. Ripple Effect has the potential of making the wife, Kathy, have retired toOpen dialogue goes miles in reducing tensions,relationship between the E.D. and the board Washington state and welcomefrustrations, and burnout.much more cordial by defining the roles for both visits from their grown children, grandchildren, and grand dog,CEO: Get over yourself! Whether you are ain a way that is nonthreatening.as well as friends and familyType-A overachiever whos sure of yourself, or aTo find out more about Ripple Effect, visit from near and far. Contact HerbType-B achiever with solid success but lingeringwww.citygatenetwork.org/rippleeffect. \x03at hsmith@citygatenetwork.org.54 WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022'