Main Street organizations are powerful engines for revitalizing historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. Transformation strategies — a comprehensive approach designed to guide a community’s economic, social, and physical revitalization — are central to their success. However, a well-crafted strategy is only as strong as the board of directors that oversees it. Here are seven steps to leverage your board for effective transformation strategy implementation.
1. Align the Board with Your Transformation Strategies
Ensuring that every board member understands and fully aligns with your transformation strategies is crucial. This alignment begins with a thorough onboarding process for new board members, where the strategies are explained and discussed in depth. Existing board members should be re-engaged through workshops or retreats that reinforce the strategies importance and their role in its development and execution.
Put it in Action: Organize a strategic planning session where board members can review and ask questions about the community survey, market data, and strategies. This will ensure buy-in and create a sense of ownership among all board members.
2. Clearly Define Roles and Responsibilities
One of the most common pitfalls in strategy implementation is the lack of clarity around roles and responsibilities. Every board member should clearly understand their specific contributions to the strategy, whether it’s through fundraising, advocacy, or volunteer recruitment.
Put it in Action: Develop detailed role descriptions that tie directly to the strategic goals. Consider using a role identification tool like MOCHA to clearly outline the manager, owner, consultant, helper, and approver for projects. Regularly review these roles to ensure they remain relevant as work to implement as the strategy progresses.
3. Empower Committees to Drive Strategy
Main Street boards often operate through committees focused on key areas such as design, promotion, economic vitality, and organization. These committees should drive the transformation strategy implementation, each taking ownership of relevant strategic goals by creating detailed work plans.
Put it in Action: Align each committee’s work plan with your transformation strategies. Provide committees with the resources, training, and autonomy they need to execute their part of the strategy effectively.