Anytime you bring together a group of people from different backgrounds, cultures, wealth and skills levels, tension and conflict will invariably surface. Most of the time conflict is healthy, but some people take conflict to the extreme or they don't know how to deal with it like an adult. When one of your board members gets out of line or violates standards of behavior, what do you do? Let's look at ways to deal with these troublesome individuals so they don't destroy your board . . . or worse, your organization.

1. Don't get into the situation in the first place. Try to nip it in the bud the first time it happens. If a board member says or does something inappropriate, sit down and discuss the incident with them; make sure they understand what acceptable behavior is.
2. Hand out protocol policies when electing the board members. The policies can set forth the protocol for when and where board members can discuss internal issues and how board members can argue issues during board meetings.
3. Communicate frequently and often with all board members. Make sure there is constant discussion (at least once a month) between board members about any issues or concerns they have.
4. Pro-actively share information willingly and often. Be over the top in your efforts to present information to troubling board members so they feel comfortable in your execution of the day-to-day business of the organization.
5. Let board members attend training sessions . If a board member is interested in a fundraising topic, have them accompany you to a training session, or sit down with them and educate them yourself.
6. Take this member to lunch/coffee and find out what "makes them tick." What do they enjoy doing when they're not annoying you? Use these tidbits of knowledge to your advantage. Send information to this board member related to their interests and build a relationship of trust.
7. Find out the board member's birthday and /or anniversary. Send them special notes and cards to help build and/or mend the relationship.
8. Keep them busy with tasks and work so there is little time for them to get in your face.
9. Have the chairperson of the board talk with the offending board member about their behavior. Creating organizational discipline is an important role for the chair of your board. When a board member steps out of line it is the responsibility of the chair to sit down with the person. This is very difficult for many people, but it is a sign of true leadership.
10. Form a "care and feeding committee" of the board to not only look at how you reward the board members, but also how you discipline board members who get out of line.