With regularity an assumption is made that every board member knows and understands the role of the board relative to the organization it leads. Seldom do boards clarify their role in writing. So, most board members believe they attend each meeting prepared to make decisions on the issues at hand, whatever they turn out to be. Boards functioning in this capacity are reactionary.
They lack the proactive leadership management desperately desires
They waste the knowledge and wisdom offered by gifted board members
They squander scheduled agenda time and elongate meetings
They let priority items slide in favor of minutia
Boards owe it their members and stakeholders to define and document the expected results of their work. In writing, the board should identify its job products. Job products go well beyond a detailed list of responsibilities by specifying the desired outcomes, results, or accomplishments of those duties; along with appropriate timeframes for their completion. Whatever appears on the job products list must be different than the items assigned to management; thereby eliminating competition and conflict.
Boards that govern by keeping agendas focused solely on preselected job products …
Demonstrate proactive leadership
Bring an enduring value to the organization
Give priority and legitimacy to what’s most important
Separate themselves from management
Empower management
Create meaningful agendas and meetings
Recruit board members with governance skills
Inspire a leadership culture for accelerated progress and achievement
Logicboard offers an innovative and highly successful model for board leadership and governance. It brings detail and coaching to the items listed above. Contact us today for more information.
Creating Excellence in Board Leadership
