{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Every Board Has an Elephant. Most Just Feed it.","description":" Every board has an elephant. Maybe it's the board member who dominates every conversation. Maybe it's the beloved CEO whose performance has quietly slipped. Maybe it's the fundraising problem everyone discusses but nobody owns. Or perhaps it's the strategic initiative that has been "almost successful" for six consecutive years.       Everyone knows it's there. Nobody wants to mention it. So the board does what organizations often do when courage becomes inconvenient: They feed the elephant.   Elephants Have Excellent Appetites Boards feed elephants in all kinds of ways. They postpone difficult conversations. They soften uncomfortable language. They create committees. They commission another study. They put the issue on next month's agenda, where it enjoys a brief appearance before being returned safely to its natural habitat.   Occasionally, they even hire a consultant. As a consultant, I appreciate the business, and it would be a privilege to help. But sometimes you don't need another consultant. You need someone in the room willing to say, "We all know what the problem is. Why aren't we dealing with it?" That's where leadership begins. Tune in to learn more! ","author_name":"The Fundraising Coach -- Fundraising Tips, Tools, and Tactics for Nonprofits -- by Tom Iselin","author_url":"http:\/\/www.tomiselin.com","html":"