Recently, I have been asked by clients and boards that I am a
member of about term limits for board members. While there are no
legal requirements for term limits organizations, many governance
experts believe that term limits for board members are best
practice. Term limits create space for new members and facilitate
diversification efforts; bring new members with fresh perspectives;
offer a democratic way to refresh the board; make it easier to
transition unproductive or disruptive members off the board; allow
board members to step down gracefully; facilitate succession
planning with a mix of board veterans and newcomers; and deter
stagnation and procrastination.
Term limits have value, but so do former board members. When
considering term limits, organizations need to consider: (1) the
length of terms; (2) the number of consecutive terms permitted; and
(3) options for board members to stay involved, such as advisory
boards and committee work. In order to ensure
