This post comes as a result of my many conversations with multiple Executive Directors across the country these past weeks, as well as my experience as  a former Executive Director for a PBID.  Some ED’s are wondering why  they and their  Board are not on the same page.  This  can get frustrating.  It’s vital that you as an ED or staffer be able to keep open lines of communication with your Board and maintain a unified front to your district.  Hope this helps.

Dear Board of Directors,

Thank you for selecting me to be your Executive Director. This is a position I do not take lightly nor do I take for granted. You have tasked me with overseeing the everyday operations of running this Improvement District.

Each of you is a success story that is to be commended. You are successful business owners or leaders in your organizations who have established processes and implanted ideas that make your businesses successful. You input and feedback about how things should run will always be taken into consideration.

While I am here to work on your behalf and to carry out the decisions you have made as a Board, there are 4 things that I would like to share with you that will help me to do a better job on your behalf. I believe that by bringing these things to you, this will make us even more effective as an Improvement district and that we will have a greater impact on the businesses and the communities that we serve.

1. Stay on my side

I will make mistakes during my time as an ED. That is something that is bound to happen. What I need to know from you is that you will stay on my side as we represent this District together in spite of errors, knowing that I will own my mistakes and work to resolve them quickly. Edification works both ways. I will speak only to the positive things about you to our owners, vendors and others. I am just asking you to do the same. Privately, correction can be discussed, but publicly we should always maintain a solid front.

2. Engagement, not just direction is key

I understand that each of you volunteers your time to attend meetings and give input. I am asking you not just for your valuable, verbal input, but for you to really engage in this district. You are already engaged financially, what I am asking is that you would take the time for outreach.  Commit to doing  a district walk, or offer to take our list of business in the district and make personal phone calls to see what people are saying about us, or even reach out to other owners and encourage them to be a part of our annual luncheon or board meetings, etc.  These small seemingly insignificant things make a huge difference and allows me to reach even more people with your help.

3. We should be open to “hiring to our weakness”

My staff (interns or paid staff) and I are tasked with being the “one stop shop” for the district.  We are the marketers,  the accountants, database managers, mediators between owners, event planners and so much more.  This is not a complaint.  We were hired to be flexible and we are.   There are things  that can be done quicker and much more efficiently with a contractor who knows exactly how to do what we need for a project that may take us five times as long to do.  Whether it’s an event planner, or a social media expert, there are going to be times that it would be best to consider outsourcing some items so I can be free to maintain connection with the district on the everyday things that really matter to you and the other owners.

4.Don’t Major in the Minors

Improvement Districts are not, or should not be stagnant organizations.  We are a thriving organization that is constantly evolving and improving.  My goal is that we are always on the forefront of the changes happening in and around our district. Additionally my goal is that we ARE the CHANGE that is happening in our district. Sometimes this may not always seem to align with what you were thinking we should be doing.  I am asking for your patience. All the things I am doing now are part of the bigger plans that you have already laid out as a Board, for us to be moving towards,  and that is genuinely my goal. My methodology may not be the same as yours, but I have the end goals we discussed in mind as I set things in motion.

These are 4 things I think if you will keep front of mind that as we work together will benefit us as a team tremendously.  Thank you for taking time to read this and know that I have chosen to represent you in the best way possible in every situation.

Sincerely,

Your Executive Director