In a setting as large and diverse as a nonprofit board, conflicts are bound to happen. It’s the nature of the beast. The key is to know how to successfully resolve them when they do arise.

In their book “The Best of Boards,” Marci Thomas, CPA, MHA and Kim Strom-Gottfried, Ph. D., discuss ways that boards can defuse conflicts. They wrote that conflict resolution requires not only effective individual communications, but also a climate that supports respect, transparency, and straightforward treatment of differences.

Thomas and Strom-Gottfried also suggest nonprofits create a code of ethics to deal with conflicts. They referenced one such code created by Nancy E. Algert and Christine A. Stanley in their book “Conflict Management.” Those ideas include:

• Remember that every member is responsible for the team’s progress and success.
• Listen to and show respect for the contributions of other members.
• Criticize ideas, not persons.
• Do not allow hidden agendas.
• Do not allow collusion.
• Strive for consensus.
• Resolve conflicts constructively.
• Pay attention; avoid disruptive behavior.
• Avoid disruptive side conversations.
• Allow only one person to speak at a time.
• Ensure that everyone participates and that no one dominates.
• Be succinct; avoid long anecdotes and examples.
• Understand that pulling rank is not allowed.
• Attend to your personal comfort needs at any time but minimize team disruption.

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