Related Topics
Board Job Description
Approval Authority
One of the basic principles of good governance is the clear and clean flow of authority
from the board to the staff and the equally clean flow of accountability from the staff to
the board. Basic to understanding the authority flow in a club is knowing where the
authority lies and how it is used. The table below demonstrates that board authority
resides with the board as a group – not with individual members. It illustrates how that
board members wear different hats depending on what role they are playing – as a
board meeting in a board meeting, as a volunteer when advising the GM or a staff
member, or as an implementer of a board directive. It is important that board
members know when they are acting in a position of authority, so that they don’t
violate the principle of the board speaking with one voice as a unit and not as a
cacophony of voices caused by board members who presume authority while acting
as individuals.
The Three Hats Board Members Wear
1. Governance Hat
(only hat that carries
legal authority to
govern)
2. Volunteer Hat
(this hat carries
no legal authority)
3. Implementer Hat
(carries limited
authority, but is seldom
worn in most boards)

Worn only in board or committee meeting with a quorum

Decisions made only when in the group wearing this hat

GM is accountable only to board as a group

Is on when not in a board or committee meeting

Worn when advising the GM

Worn when helping staff (alone or in a group)

Seldom worn because staff usually implement board
policies

But worn when a board resolution gives a board member
authority to implement some board action

Hat is removed when task is done