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The Chair Project:  ChairPair Pilot 

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A Three-Month Peer Experiment for Board Chairs
This spring, The Chair Project is launching ChairPair — a small, time-bound pilot designed to test what structured peer reflection makes possible for Board Chairs.
Across sectors, Chairs describe carrying real responsibility with limited opportunity for preparation or reflection. The role can feel both central and ambiguous — accountable, but not fully in control.
ChairPair is an attempt to introduce light infrastructure around that reality.
The question we are testing:
If Board Chairs have even modest, structured peer reflection over 90 days, does something measurable shift?

What ChairPair Involves
Participation is simple and intentionally light.
  • Register as a pair (or small group of three) with another current Board Chair.
  • Meet once per month for 45 minutes - one hour.
  • Use a shared reflection prompt each month.
  • Submit a brief (3–5 minute) confidential reflection following each conversation.
  • Commit to the full three-month pilot.
This is not a facilitated cohort.
It is not a training program.
It is a structured peer container.


Pilot Timeline
  • Registration opens: early-March
  • Pilot runs: mid-March–May
  • Three monthly conversations
  • Synthesis brief published in early June
Participation will be capped if needed to keep the pilot focused and manageable.

Eligibility
ChairPair is designed for:
  • Current nonprofit Board Chairs
  • Leaders willing to register with a partner (or small group of three)
  • Participants able to commit to all three months
  • Co-Chairs are welcome to participate both as individuals with Chairs from other organizations or with their Co-Chairs
We are not matching participants in this pilot.

Looking for a Partner?
​
If you’re interested but don’t yet have a Chair partner:
  • Reach out within your network - consider asking your Executive Director if they can ask their fellow EDs about potentially interested Chairs.
  • Consider posting on LinkedIn using #ChairPair.
  • Share a note on the Workswell LinkedIn page indicating that you’re seeking a partner.

We recognize that finding a partner may be the hardest part of this experiment for some people, and we're interested in hearing from you about the process of building peer infrastructure. If you have questions about finding a partner or would like to share reflections on this part of the process please email us at [email protected]

Confidential Reflection
Two weeks after each shared prompt, participants will receive a link to a short reflection form. Responses are confidential and will be shared only in aggregate unless explicit permission is given to quote.  Themes and insights from the pilot will be synthesized and shared publicly in June.

Register for the ChairPair Pilot 
If you're interested in registering to participate in the ChairPair Pilot, please fill out the registration form below. We will be accepting applications through March 13th. 


​Thank you!
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To learn more about working with Jill and Workswell:
​Email [email protected]
Or sign up for the Workswell Quarterly(ish) Email (
Substack may show a “paid” option, but please ignore that - this is free!)
​
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  • About Jill
  • BOOKS
  • Work with Jill
  • Media
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Jill's Tee Shop
  • The Chair Project
  • The Chair Project: ChairPair Pilot