2019 New Year's Resolution to Become a Better Board
We tend to recognize that as individuals we always have opportunities to improve and at this time of year, many of us make New Year’s resolutions to improve in this or that area of our lives. We also recognize the importance of continuous quality improvement or continuous performance improvement in our work settings. But, too infrequently do we focus on improving the quality and performance of our boards of directors. Perhaps we think that good governance should come naturally, or that governance just amounts to having to muddle through without much guidance or perhaps we’re not aware that there are best practices available for boards to embrace. Whatever the reason, we often don’t apply performance improvement thinking to the boardroom.
The reality is that there are best practices to be embraced by boards. There is guidance available specific to board governance, guidance which recognizes that governance is different from management and that good management doesn’t necessarily translate into good board governance.
So, at this time of year, when we often make New Year’s resolutions, I would like to take this opportunity to briefly share with you some resources that are available to you through Boards On Course for assisting your board to become a better board.
Identify Opportunities for Board Performance Improvement
The following tools are available at https://www.BoardsOnCourse.com/resources: board self-assessment survey form (for all boards) and board self-assessment survey form (for boards practicing Policy Governance®). If you would like Word document versions of either or both of these forms, please let me know and I will be happy to send them to you. Also, I have a shorter version available for the board self-assessment form for use by all boards. These tools are available for your own use. Also, if your board wishes, assessment forms can be completed by individual board members confidentially and sent to me to be collated and summarized in a report to your board. I can facilitate a board discussion of the report and the identification of opportunities for board performance improvement. Also, if your board wishes, I can supplement information from the board self-assessment forms with information garnered from in-person or telephone interviews with board members and CEO.
Board Workshops and Training Sessions
Board workshops and training sessions from two-hours to two-days in length can be customized for your board. Such sessions can be provided on a range of topics including the Policy Governance® system (an integrated comprehensive board governance system), Governing as Serving: The Effective Caring Board (applying the compelling values of Servant Leadership in the boardroom), Better Boardroom Discussions/Better Boardroom Decisions (applying the insights and tools of group dynamics), Excellent Board Governance, The Results-Driven Board, The Accountable Board (Effective Community Engagement), etc. For information about these, please go to https://www.BoardsOnCourse.com/services.
If you are interested in board training on a specific topic or if you have any other specific needs or questions related to board performance improvement, please contact me by responding to this email message or by emailing me at jpbohley@gmail.com. I would love to help.
I wish you a wonderful 2019 and continued success in your board governance journey.