Key Qualities of an Effective Chairperson
- Right view of God (A.W. Tozer: thinking of God as He truly is).
- Integrates biblical principles into decisions & relationships.
- Quick to call for prayer in discerning God’s will.
2. Wisdom & Discernment
- Sound judgment, knowledge, insight.
- Deep alignment with mission & values.
- Constantly brings the board’s focus back to the mission in decisions.
3. Aligned with mission,vision and values
- Mission-centric in thinking and decisions
4. Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
- Self-awareness, self-control, empathy, and interpersonal skills.
- Warm, approachable, gracious, puts people at ease.
- Balanced: self-confidence + humility.
- Uses humour positively and constructively.
5. Governance Understanding
- Clear grasp of nonprofit governance principles.
- Strong sense of stewardship.
- Knows and maintains the fine line between board & management roles.
6. Facilitation Skills
- Creates an environment of candour and open input.
- Welcomes diverse contributions.
- Builds consensus where needed.
- Runs efficient, purposeful meetings.
- Courage to address problems & resolve conflict.
7. Organisational Skills
- Designs & implements an effective board calendar.
- Coordinates agendas with the CEO & board.
- Ensures pre-work is complete and follow-up happens.
- Structures committees appropriately (if the board is large enough).
8. Communication Skills
- Explains complex issues clearly.
- Patient and objective listener.
- Asks questions that deepen understanding.
- Remains impartial → essential for effective facilitation.
Final Notes
- These 8 qualities are ideal, but not absolute.
- No one is perfect → effectiveness is relative, not absolute.
- Example: Communication skills can be “good enough” if other strengths compensate.
- Aim: Choose someone with the capability to succeed, not just to fill the role.