Why Cultural Competency Matters to International Governance

As professions and trades become more global, many associations are expanding operations to serve members and chapters overseas, creating new models of doing business along the way.

While continuing to prioritize the delivery of benefits and services on a global scale and the challenges these efforts can present, updating association governance structures to meet the needs of an evolving member base is often overlooked.

Many executives are aware of the importance of having the board’s composition and governance practices reflect the demographics of the members they are trying to serve, but they’re unsure how and when to make the necessary changes as the organization evolves into a global presence. Boards may also require education on industry best practices to recognize this need for transformation. In some cases, of course, an ideal source for this type of evolution is from the members themselves.

Many aspects of governance should be evaluated as an association begins to serve more global members.

An important first step in moving toward global-friendly governance is to ensure that the current structure is not creating barriers to international members’ participation in general. Do the bylaws allow global constituents to serve on committees or to be represented on the board or house of delegates? How much of a vote (if any) are constituents allowed, and is this approximately on par with their prevalence within the total membership? Are there components or chapters that valued participants can join, and is this an expectation of their member type?

An important first step in moving toward global-friendly governance is to ensure that the current structure is not creating barriers to international members’ participation in general.

Once the rules are in place to allow participation in board-level governance, other considerations must be made to facilitate smooth transitions from member to volunteer. Key questions you should ask include:

• How are global members notified of calls for nominations?
• Is translation or other required paperwork necessary for applications to serve?
• What are the time or travel expectations for participants from outside the United States?
• Do candidate-selection processes need to change to ensure international representation or other diversity?
• How should onboarding materials and training practices be updated to ensure that international volunteers are as prepared as other members?
• How must call or meeting times for the board or committees be adjusted to allow participation by all involved?

Global participants can be assisted in other ways, particularly when it comes to mentorship and timelines. From a mentorship perspective, assigning new global participants a “board buddy” or mentor who can answer questions on culture and protocol, encourage contribution, and create a personal relationship can help a participant become more comfortable in his or her new leadership role.

In terms of timing, sending out the board packet further in advance of meetings gives global participants more time to review materials, which is especially crucial when English is not their first language or when they are not accustomed to meeting formalities such as Robert’s Rules of Order (opens in a new tab).

Throughout the process of considering changes to governance structure, it is equally important to consider the feelings and concerns of domestic members and to accompany transformation with appropriate communication plans to create buy-in along the way. Globalization can be very positive as it promotes knowledge sharing, standardization, and new ideas, but in some cases potential competition for jobs and recognition can be met with opposition.

International members can be some of the most energetic volunteers, adding a new perspective to how the association can grow and become even more competitive. It is important to note that there is not a universal time or number of global members that triggers when governance practices need to be evaluated. It differs with every association. In most cases, however, the members will let you know when change needs to occur. Just be sure that you and your board are ready to listen and always assume positive intent.