Chances are, you’ve heard this quote before: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit.”
It’s a quote that is often associated with sports (and just as often misattributed to Aristotle instead of its original author Will Durant, but that’s beside the point). If you ask any elite athlete, they’ll tell you that this insight is absolutely true! The continual practice of their skills, attitude, knowledge, and commitment to excellence are big drivers to success in their sport.

Having worked extensively in nonprofit leadership over my career, I have seen this apply to boards as well. I believe if you ask any effective nonprofit board, they too will say their ongoing practice of skills, attitude, knowledge, and commitment are the keys to good board governance, which helps to make their organizations great.