It just takes one dissenting board member to upset the nice, neat flow of things in your not for profit organisation.  Is this a bad thing?  No, not always.

It can be unsettling when someone speaks up to voice an opinion which conflicts with the opinion of the group.  After a few moments of shocked silence, a babble of voices break out as the other members either

What could be good about that?

Here are three big benefits of rocking the boat.

What have you missed?

Actually, a contradictory opinion is a useful tool during your meetings.  When everything seems to flow smoothly, things can be overlooked.  It’s the way you’ve always done it….  Why change things when they are working?   You’ve probably heard that said in meetings before.   The problem with not considering new options is that you might miss opportunities, or continue to use outdated systems when there is a new one available which will save time and money.

Who’s the strong member?

How difficult it is to stand up against the crowd.  If you have a member who is willing and able to do so, you have a member who is truly committed to the work you are doing.  You have a member who is strong enough to think independently and not be swayed by popular opinion.  You have a member who is able to look at things from a different point of view.  Think of the value in that when it comes time to generate ideas and introduce changes.

Is it all really as it seems?

One board member I know makes a conscious choice to express a dissenting opinion when he thinks that the other members are going with the flow or that they disagree but are not prepared to say so.  Not only does this energise the group, it encourages others to express their opinions in the safety of company.  When decisions are made that people don’t really agree with (but don’t argue against) the resulting action will be slow and sluggish at best. Why?  Because the members are not committed to it.

Next time you have a boat rocker on your board, congratulate yourself and pay attention to what he or she is saying.  It may be truly valuable.