Tip #96 How Can the Performance of Individual Board Members Be Assessed?

September 1, 2023  |  tips for effective boards

Some ideas for assessing the performance of individual board members follow:

  1. Each board member completes an annual self-evaluation of their performance that includes educational needs and shares this with the board chair.
  2. Each board member completes anonymous evaluations of the other board members. These completed evaluations can be given to the board chair.
  3. Each board member meets with the board chair for an annual board member performance review. This performance review session could include a discussion of the board member's self-evaluation. It could also include the evaluations of them completed anonymously by other board members. Finally, it could include a discussion of board member educational needs and also possible future service as a board officer.

A sample Board Member Self-Evaluation Form and a sample Form for Assessment of Board Member Peers follows.

_______________________________________________________________________

Boards On Course

Sample Board Member Self-Evaluation Form

Name of Board Member Completing This Form: _________________________

Date: __________

Scoring: 1 = Strongly Agree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Agree,

5 = Strongly Agree

 

  Comments Score  
1. I attended board meetings regularly.    
2. I was on time for board meetings.    
3. I was well-prepared for board meetings.    
4. I participated constructively in board meeting discussions.    
5. I interacted with other board members in a courteous and respectful manner.    
6. I sought out and encouraged a diversity of viewpoints.    
7. I felt comfortable expressing opinions different from those expressed by other board members.    
8. I didn't dominate board meeting discussions.    
9. I focused on board-level issues rather than operational-level issues delegated to management.    
10. Overall, I felt confident that I have the knowledge and skills to be an effective board member.    
11. I would like to serve another term as a board member (if eligible).    
12. I would like to serve as a board officer (if not already serving as such).    
     

To enhance my service as a board member, I am interested in increasing my knowledge and skills in the following areas.

 

 

Board Member Signature: _________________________

Date: __________

_______________________________________________________________________

Boards On Course

Sample Form for Assessment of Board Member Peers

Scoring: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Agree,

5 = Strongly Agree

  Board Member Name Board Member Name Board Member Name Board Member Name
1. Attended board meetings regularly.        
2. Was on time for board meetings.        
3. Was well-prepared for board meetings.        
4. Participated constructively in board meeting discussions.        
5. Interacted with other board members in a courteous and respectful way.        
6. Sought out and encouraged a diversity of viewpoints.        
7. Felt comfortable expressing opinions different from those expressed by other board members.        
8. Did not dominate board meeting discussions.        
9. Focused on board-level issues rather than operational-level issues delegated to management.        
10. Overall, demonstrated having the knowledge and skills to be an effective board member.        
11. Would recommend this board member serve another term as a board member (if eligible).        
12. Would recommend this board member serve as a board officer (if not already serving as such).        
         

 

Board Member Signature: _________________________

Date: __________

_______________________________________________________________________

 

Please feel free to modify and use these forms as you wish. For a Word document of either or both of these forms, please email John Bohley: jpbohley@gmail.com.

To be clear, the Policy Governance(R) model does not require any of these specific individual board member evaluation approaches. To learn more about the Policy Governance(R) model, please click https://www.BoardsOnCourse.com/policy-governance.