Charity Trustees - help

[StripeyStar]

Hello, would appreciate any ideas on how to deal with this situation.

I'm working for a charity that has a longstanding board of trustees and they're all brilliant on a personal level.
I was brought in to make changes and build a team and the charity but now that I'm doing this they seem to be a little put out (that's the only way I can describe it!). They're very used to dealing with people who don't have a huge amount of leadership experience and they lead and advise (I know and understand the trustees role). They seem a little taken aback by someone who knows what they're doing. We're re-doing work I've already done with the team solely to allow them to be seen to be the people who have done the work and made the decision (as opposed to the decision being agreed by them but coming from the staff team).

They've just done this again and I'm very close to leaving (am now looking for another job) but I wondered if anyone has had a similar experience and how you managed it?

TIA

To have an involved trustee board is rare so you have that which is a positive. If they are used to being hands on then it may take time to change this. The day to day running should be yours to do with you reporting monthly to the chair or if any issue arises such as safeguarding or finance that needs sign off. They should all have trustee training and you can get this through your local CVC and it might be worth them having a refresher. I would clarify with them your role and theirs and see what they say. For a trustee board a good manager is a godsend and they would be foolish to let you walk. I am a trustee and work for a charity so see both sides. I would also see could the board be expanded to bring in new blood and skills as this can help, you may see gaps that they cannot see. I would be honest with them about setting working boundaries and then see. They appointed you so must trust you to do the work, if they do then they must give you the space to do it.

To be honest, the vast majority of my experience of charity trustees is over-involved micro-managers. So very different from the previous poster. So yes, my experience is similar to yours, both working with charities, and often representing their employees (union rep).

Thanks @Quveas and @mumonthehill, I seem to have a mix! They appear to be very involved and the staff team have always said that since I first joined. The truth is that they’re not that involved but the. you get little bursts of over involvement.
I think I have a decision to make.

I was met with passive obstruction (ie “that’s a good idea, I’ll do it” aka nothing happened and I was blocked from doing it myself) so I left. They’ve asked me back but I said no.

Your experience sounds like my experience. I tried to make it work but found I became less ambitious, made things smaller and lost interest and so left.

@RiffRaffBananas that sounds very similar to my situation. They sweep in and ask the staff team ‘what are your great ideas for the coming year’ and then leave me saying no as the trustees won’t do any of them! It’s an odd place and I’m not sure I’ve got the patience for it.

@Cherryana I feel that too. I’ve actually thought to myself ‘just keep your head down, take the money’ etc. but I’m not like that.