Have you ever worked with a board that seems to hate that you're competent?

[GenerousLoveHandles]

Hi, exactly that really!

Working with a board that had someone less experienced in charge before me. That person took up a lot of their time asking for help etc. and the board told me they were looking for someone with more experience. Ok, all fine.

Now, it feels like they hate the fact that I've got more experience and don't need to call on them each time there's a little problem. I can handle most things and have gone to them when it's necessary and if I need any help but, I think they expect me to be doing this daily- I don't need to.
I now make a big deal of asking for their "help" and being super grateful when they do!

Has anyone been in this situation? Is there a fix other than pretending I don't know stuff to keep them happy?!

TIA

Don't pretend. Work with the chair on what their governance / board development priorities are and ask how you can best support them. They'll soon feel the benefit of a competent lead.

Thanks, @Sparkletastic, the chair doesn't seem to see that as part of my responsibility. They're a board that has been in place for a long time (think 20+ years) so they can be set in their ways.
I've got to the point where I just think it'll be better to go and recommend they put in a less experienced, existing, member of staff to just look after things.
I think they liked it beforehand without actually realising it.

Can you ask for some kind of review as to how well the current situation is working? It might clarify things a bit for everyone.

I wouldn't be pretending I need help to anyone!

Good Governance Institute had an excellent recent webinar (Reviews should create value 18 Oct - sorry, I can't seem to find the recording) that might reassure you this is more common than you might think. People get used to having "the right sort" of people in power as a recognition of being "good sorts" irrespective of their competence. It creates discomfort when competent people take up a post.

Is it that they want to feel they are helping ?

Could you suggest a project that they could take on? Leaving you to focus on the core role. Fundraising perhaps?

Are you sure they don't expect to be involved and you're annoying them because you're not keeping them in the loop?