board-management relationship

Establish Platform for Strong Cooperative Direction through Board-GM Relationship

By Columinate|2023-05-05T20:07:48-04:00November 1st, 2014|

The relationship between the board and general manager is of paramount importance to any cooperative because both parties provide a connection to the co-op’s main constituency: owners. The co-op owners trust that their elected representatives will provide good governance on their behalf, resulting in positive outcomes toward fulfilling the co-op’s goals. In turn, the board delegates responsibility to management to carry out operational strategies [...]

Strategic Alignment of Board and GM

By Columinate|2023-05-05T20:07:25-04:00July 1st, 2013|

Of all the important relationships in a cooperative, the one between the general manager and the board is arguably the most critical to the co-op’s long-term success. If the basic elements of trust and accountability are lacking for either party, chances of working together will be fraught with conflict or misunderstanding. It will be hard for the co-op to grow or move forward, and [...]

General Manager Contract Template

By Marilyn Scholl|2024-01-11T18:24:14-05:00June 28th, 2013|

Updated: August 2nd, 2016 Every board of directors of a retail food cooperative should strive to be an excellent employer for their general manager, the person who is responsible for the success of the cooperative. Clear expectations are part of being a good employer and contracts are one possible tool that boards can use to clarify expectations and provide for terms of separation. [...]

Monitoring staff treatment using staff survey data

By Michael Healy|2023-05-05T20:33:31-04:00January 13th, 2012|

CBLD Policy Template and other resources (links to the CBLD Library) GM Report Support: Staff Treatment Related articles in Cooperative Grocer Colter, Carolee, and Mary Courteau. “Counting on Co-op Employees.” Cooperative Grocer #141, March-April 2009. Scholl, Marilyn. “The Board Role in the Accountability Stream.” Cooperative Grocer #130, May-June 2007.

Great Idea: Evaluating Staff Treatment Policies

By Columinate|2023-05-05T20:34:29-04:00October 2nd, 2011|

Board president David Woo of Weaver’s Way food co-op in Philadelphia, Penn. said that while the staff treatment policy is part and parcel of all the management limitation policies, he thinks that this particular policy can also function as an example to the greater community. It shows that the co-op values its employees and has high standards for human resources. “Consumer co-ops should be [...]

Power Triggers, Seesaw Battles and Handcar Cooperation

By Arthur Sherwood|2023-05-05T20:34:51-04:00May 3rd, 2011|

By Art Sherwood 154 May - June - 2011 Most would agree that a healthy board-general manager relationship not only makes the co-op run more smoothly, it is a critical connection between member-owners and operations in our democratically controlled organizations. Yet the health of this working relationship often remains elusive or at least can come under stress. It can "turn on a dime [...]

Starting Off Right With Your New General Manager

By Carolee Colter|2023-05-05T20:21:32-04:00October 28th, 2010|

Guest Panelists: Melanie Reid, GM, Just Food Co-op Terry Bowling, GM, La Montañita Co-op

Building a Successful Board-GM Relationship

By Todd Wallace|2023-05-05T20:21:43-04:00July 29th, 2010|

Presented by Art Sherwood & Todd Wallace CBLD Board Consultants Panelists Amy Holt - Board President Lexington Co-op Market Buffalo, NY Rose Marie Klee - Board President Wheatsville Food Co-op Austin, TX George Huntington - GM Bloomingfoods Bloomington, IN Lori Burge - Development Mgr. People's Food Co-op Portland, OR

Thinking Strategically: Learning owners’ needs, expectations through study and engagement

By Columinate|2023-05-05T20:21:57-04:00September 4th, 2009|

By Marshall Kovitz 144 September - October - 2009 When we look at the future for the co-op, what do we see and how do we express it? These are vital questions for board members to ask because it’s the board’s job to articulate outcomes that guide and inspire the co-op. And the results must be a thriving business that meets owners’ needs and [...]

Evaluating the General Manager

By Mark Goehring|2024-02-22T17:33:10-05:00July 15th, 2009|

By Mark Goehring, Carolee Colter 143 July - August - 2009 A board evaluating the general manager (GM) of a food co-op…now there’s a process that directors should be able to describe, defend, celebrate and appreciate with little or no ambiguity or hesitation. In a recent online recorded workshop on GM evaluation, Thane Joyal and Carolee Colter laid out these four learning objectives [...]

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