Stay in Your Lane: Why Boards Must Think Big or Risk Going Small

There’s a simple truth about great boards: they know their job isn’t to run the place — it’s to steer it.

Private schools, colleges, and nonprofits thrive when boards focus on where the organization is headed, not how the sausage is made. Strategic and generative thinking — the kind that asks “What if?” and “Why now?” — is where board leadership creates lasting impact. That’s the air they should breathe.

But too often, boards drift into the weeds — questioning minor staffing decisions, reworking the cafeteria budget, or debating classroom layouts. Sound familiar? It’s a fast way to derail leadership, blur accountability, and create a culture of second-guessing. The result? Confusion, frustration, and a serious loss of trust between board and staff.

Operational details are important — but they belong to management. When boards stay focused on mission, vision, and long-term value, they free the professionals to do what they do best: lead day to day.

So next time you’re tempted to zoom in, zoom out. Ask the bigger question. And remember: a board’s power lies in altitude, not proximity.