if you work for a charity...

[GriphookTheGoblin]

...how involved with day to day operations are your board of trustees? Do they expect to sign off job descriptions for new staff members? Do they expect a say in the design of promotional materials?

Just curious to see if my experience is unusual or the norm!

How big is the charity?

The role of the Board should be strategic - they should be concerned with the overall direction of the organisation, its development, challenging and holding the executive to account, and evaluating whether operations are meeting strategic objectives.

No, they shouldn’t be involved in the things you describe - but neither is your experience unusual. Weaker Boards, particularly those with a number of members who aren’t from strategic professional backgrounds, often get bogged down in operational matters. Some training and Board appraisals are in order.

It's a very small charity. Seven employees.

Small charity - trustees not involved at all in the day to day running.

I think it's partly because our CE is a bit crap

It sounds like they're either a) an inexperienced board trying who don't understand their role or b) doing the work the CEO would normally do because they're worried about her or his performance

I think it's a combination of both tbh.