Jan's and Richard's help in implementing Policy Governance^® has been instrumental in our tremendous accomplishments in the past decade. We haven't been slowed down by not knowing who should make the decision about this or that issue, because we're crystal clear about roles and responsibilities. For 10 years now, the board has had a healthy and harmonious relationship with my management team, even as we transformed from association to regulatory body. During that time, Jan and Richard helped the board clarify their roles with respect to organizational oversight and our mandate to protect the public. With the continual addition of new board members, working with The Governance Coach remains invaluable.

Our board has gone from "problem child" to "poster child". Working with The Governance Coach has made all the difference. At one point, after 6 presidents in 7 years, our board knew it had to lead - and to be - the change that was needed, and we sensed that Policy Governance was the way to go. The change has been far-reaching, including increased staff morale and student enrollment. Jan and her colleague Richard [Stringham] work with us as a team, with Richard orienting new board members, and Jan acting as quarterback. The beautiful thing about Jan's expertise is that she has so many real-life examples to share. She can relate to anyone in the room and get the point across to people from diverse backgrounds, including those from the corporate world. In fact , in this era of high accountability and transparency, the corporate world needs Policy Governance more than ever.

“Congratulations, you’ve made a great choice!” That’s what I’d tell any board that decided on Richard as a Policy Governance® coach. We trust his work ethic and integrity, and we feel we get excellent value from him.

Richard’s understanding of Policy Governance is deep and nuanced. With his help, we’ve grappled with topics like regulation versus advocacy in our core mandate. We’ve sharpened the Ends to include only what’s key, measurable, and achievable. And we’ve kept our focus on our real role as a board. When an association member proposed an environmental target and a way to achieve it, Richard guided us to take that input and broaden it to an Executive Limitation, instead of straying into the CEO role.

Richard is a great facilitator who knows when to let a meeting evolve, and when to jump in and direct it a certain way. Without ruffling feathers, he’ll put an issue off to one side and come back to it at the right time. We also appreciate his written feedback—he thinks of things we’d never have thought of, things that make us even better as a board.

As a large, thriving retail co-op, our success is due partly to Policy Governance® and Richard’s coaching. Our board went from being focused on operational matters, and making ad hoc decisions, to focusing consistently on the future. Today, as a result, our co-op is experiencing an ever-growing membership.

Richard’s coaching is subtle but effective, and I appreciate his persistence. Every time we step up to the bar, he moves it higher! He gives us a written report card based on his review of our meeting minutes, and he invariably includes additional resources to illustrate his points. He also helped our new CEO acclimate quickly to the governance model.

I really believe that Policy Governance is well suited to cooperatives, and I’d like to think we’re a role model for other organizations in this sector. We’ve got the right people in the right roles, doing the right things. We hold them to account, just as Richard’s coaching ensures we hold ourselves to account and keep our focus on the long-term sustainability of the co-op.

There’s no more powerful a governance model than Policy Governance^®, and Rose has helped ISA begin to harness that power. We’ve become a more strategic board that looks at where the industry is going and our role in shaping the future of arboriculture. If you’re going to implement Policy Governance, do it with a seasoned coach like Rose. Policy Governance is so different from what most boards have done in the past, which is why it’s so powerful. Rose has a deep understanding of how it works and how it can work with your specific organization. With no background in our domain, she helped us with interpretations for our executive director, who has clearer accountability now and is better able to focus on the right things. Staff are more empowered and confident about where they’re headed because of clear direction in our Ends statements. Rose has an excellent command of the language of Policy Governance, which made her an enormous help in the rewriting of our Ends statements and Policy Manual. When we experienced challenges with the model, Rose was adept at identifying root problems in a non-confrontational way and presenting us with options and solutions. I highly recommend Rose to help any board implement Policy Governance, achieve a higher level of governance, and empower its executive leader.

From my experience on two boards, I know Rose can help any board make a smooth transition to the Policy Governance model. Rose has a remarkable ability to synthesize every board member's contribution and articulate policies everyone can agree on. That's the hardest part, because the discussions are complex when there is diversity of opinion among a large group. Rose navigates with calm and puts people at ease. Our board has been freed up from deep involvement in operations to focus more on strategy, ends, and mission—our raison d`être. Our organization can become even more relevant to the people we serve. The Governance Coach's workshops helped everyone understand their roles and responsibilities under the Policy Governance model vs. the traditional board management model, and the coaching helped me perform with greater confidence as Board Chair. The Governance Coach offers excellent value, which is why we chose them in the tender process.

Anytime a corporation needs greater discipline in the relationship between the board and the administration, I'd recommend working with Rose and The Governance Coach to implement the Carver governance model. Implementing the Carver model isn't something you can do alone. Rose made it easy for us. First, she took the time to understand our business; then, she carefully tailored the Policy Governance^® model to suit our corporate structure - and that work was truly exceptional. We've been in business for over 30 years, and Rose helped us leave behind bad habits we'd developed. We're here to generate a return for shareholders. When we see the market is changing, we need to act quickly. Rose is proactive, like us, with the flexibility to change as needed. She held our hands through changes and complexity, and was firm when she needed to be, too. You can see results in the efficiency of our board meetings, in our reports, and in the daily business of the corporation. Where we used to be down in the weeds, now we're freed up to do strategic work instead of reviewing individual deals, which really is the work of our highly qualified administration. Even board members who were skeptical at first see the value of retaining Rose. In fact, we still retain her on an ongoing basis, which she has never pushed on us. Rose's ongoing coaching helps keep us on track.

Thanks to Rose, we're a different - a better - board. The best learning happens working through challenges with a coach, and that's why we chose Rose and The Governance Coach™ - that unique blend of ongoing coaching and assistance with implementing the Policy Governance^® process. Rose helped us stay focused on our ends and what we're about, always non-judgmental, always bringing it back to the governance model. Every question we had, Rose answered with a well-researched response, and her advisory reports on our minutes have improved our meetings and our minutes. Workshops were tailored and specific to our board, never cookie-cutter. The positive impact on our board has been so profound, we've decided to forgo conferences this year to invest in continuing our work with Rose.

I recommend Rose for organizations that are transitioning to Policy Governance or that need to review and enhance their current Policy Governance policies. We engaged Rose to facilitate our strategic planning and to develop a process that included two strategic planning committee meetings and a plenary session involving staff and volunteers that brought in the work of the committees. We selected Rose because of her knowledge of Policy Governance^® and her professional style which suits our organization's culture. Her expertise was key to the high quality of the end product, our final report. For example, as we worked through the strategic planning process, it became evident that some revisions were required for the "Ends", and Rose prepared an additional report with recommendations for changes to the Ends. As a facilitator, Rose is thoughtful and listens well, adapting and pulling everyone's ideas back into Policy Governance framework. Her key strength is her ability to assimilate information from a wide range of sources and write a comprehensive, coherent, and thoughtful report.

Rose is passionate about teaching Policy Governance®, and she cares about her clients, which makes her a wonderful coach. The key results we’ve seen include a true understanding of our clients (owners) and our Ends, along with the ability to determine what is important to monitor as progress toward those Ends. At virtually every board meeting now, we have a robust discussion about our role and how the board is going to add value. Within just a few years, Rose has helped us go from zero to an in-depth understanding of the Policy Governance® model and the distinct roles of the board versus management. Rose’s board orientation sessions and manual have been well received. There’s tremendous support for continuing this work, which does a great job at getting across to new board members that we’re looking for thinkers, not helpers. Red Door faces significant challenges, but Policy Governance® has given us a solid framework and a firm footing to address them head on.

I have worked with Jannice Moore in two different organizations in my capacity as CEO. In my first experience of working with Jan, she helped our Board and me to further our use of Policy Governance as a tool to ensure that great results (Ends) were achieved for our members. At my current organization, Jannice has been instrumental in educating our Board and helping them implement the Policy Governance model. She offers a great conceptual understanding, fantastic group facilitation skills, and practical advice on using the model with an eye always toward the reality of how people work together. I highly recommend Jannice Moore as a governance consultant.

I’ve worked with Jan on Policy Governance in both board and management roles over more than a decade. Under Jan’s guidance, our board has matured from being involved in operations to focusing on vision and ends. Jan helps new board members fit more easily in their roles knowing that they're doing their jobs when they focus on vision and refrain from getting directly involved in operations. Board meetings are driven by the agenda. At the same time, our management team is better able to do innovative forward-looking work, like building new housing for people with disabilities. Jan’s help in implementing Policy Governance has made it easier for us to achieve all this and stay at the forefront of social services.

Our Board of Directors adopted Policy Governance in the fall of 2002. The first two and a half years were primarily for getting comfortable with Policy Governance. In the fall of the third year, our Board brought in Jannice Moore to conduct a Policy Governance workshop. She demonstrated a very high level of understanding and knowledge of Policy Governance and helped the Board look to the future. The Board was so impressed with Jannice's knowledge and capability they hired her to be their monthly Governance Coach. Her regular reviews of our PG work along with an annual workshop are helping us to stay focused and be the best we can be for our ownership.

Our board has gone from "problem child" to "poster child". Working with The Governance Coach has made all the difference. At one point, after 6 presidents in 7 years, our board knew it had to lead - and to be - the change that was needed, and we sensed that Policy Governance was the way to go. The change has been far-reaching, including increased staff morale and student enrollment. Jan and her colleague Richard [Stringham] work with us as a team, with Richard orienting new board members, and Jan acting as quarterback. The beautiful thing about Jan's expertise is that she has so many real-life examples to share. She can relate to anyone in the room and get the point across to people from diverse backgrounds, including those from the corporate world. In fact , in this era of high accountability and transparency, the corporate world needs Policy Governance more than ever.

Jan's and Richard's help in implementing Policy Governance^® has been instrumental in our tremendous accomplishments in the past decade. We haven't been slowed down by not knowing who should make the decision about this or that issue, because we're crystal clear about roles and responsibilities. For 10 years now, the board has had a healthy and harmonious relationship with my management team, even as we transformed from association to regulatory body. During that time, Jan and Richard helped the board clarify their roles with respect to organizational oversight and our mandate to protect the public. With the continual addition of new board members, working with The Governance Coach remains invaluable.

I have been working with Boards of Directors for over thirty years. I have dealt with many consultants and other “experts” on board governance. Policy Governance is clearly the only way to go. It is 100% on target and is beneficial to board members, the CEO, staff and your clients. You could not be better served to meet your mission than by working with Jannice Moore. She understands your duties and needs of the agency. She can make you wildly successful and know that you are “on target” in regards to meeting your mission. Why else are you there?

I was impressed by what Policy Governance^®could do, and we wanted someone who is Carver-trained, so that’s why we chose The Governance Coach. So far, we’ve made a lot of headway in defining the respective roles of board members and key employees, and in bringing intentionality to what it means to govern. The chief outcome of the workshops and coaching that Andrew provided is that we speak using a common language when we talk about policy and the role of governance vs. management. We’re on the same page now. Every board has turnover, so in the future, Policy Governance will be part of the solution for better orientation of new board members and for attracting the right candidates. They'll know what is expected of them and be inspired to lead by governing.

Working with Andrew was a really good use of time and money. Because he did his homework up front, we were able to jump right into the work at hand. We got the result we wanted, which was to have common expectations and a clear understanding of our roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities. We're excited about moving forward to the next phase because we're in a stronger position to achieve our goal of increased capacity. Juno House Foundation has an unusual organizational model, so proper governance is especially critical for us. Andrew knew we were a different kettle of fish and never tried to fit us into a box. He adapted the Carver model to us and made it work for us. Andrew has a phenomenal ability to read people. He can see when someone needs to go through a discovery process, and instead of steering them onto a prescribed path, he guides them with Carver model language and concepts, combining that with each person's experience. He's respectful and considerate, as well as an expert at guiding the conversation to where it needs to go.

We chose The Governance Coach because they offer complete solutions for Policy Governance. Because we're both the regulatory body and the professional services organization for medical radiation technologists in Saskatchewan, we need to govern through principles, which makes Policy Governance such a great fit. We see it as an investment, not a quick fix, and we're confident it will help us be more successful. Andrew's workshops have been well-received by everyone, and he's a good presenter that uses relevant anecdotes that get the point across and keep it interesting. We've begun to develop executive limitation and governance policies. The results we expect are clear accountability of the CEO to Council, and a stronger focus of Council on policy and strategy.

Paul has been a real joy to work with. He’s been coaching both staff and board as we apply Policy Governance®. The level of rigor and detail in his feedback is challenging us, which is precisely what we want. Paul is a gifted educator who can identify many of the pitfalls to which we may succumb, and he has provided us with resources to help us learn and grow, as well as reports that are extremely helpful in driving improvement. Paul’s ability to respond quickly has been a blessing to both the board and staff, especially when we’re in the middle of an urgent decision or process and need his insight. The result is that we have a clear delineation of roles. The board is no longer wondering who is responsible for what. We’re seeing a new sense of urgency around results and Ends. We’re also seeing new processes, metrics, and data gathering to report on the Ends monitoring. The other result is that we’re planning the board’s work multiple years in advance, which isn’t something we’ve done before. The last and most important piece is that the board is freed up to focus on our number one job, which is to engage with owners and learn from them.

Our board is elated with Paul’s leadership every step of the way. We highly endorse him to any board seeking a facilitator and coach to help them make the change to Policy Governance^®. Moving from lay-led governance to Policy Governance, our board realized early on that we needed a coach to help us experience the full benefits of the new model. Having been a lay leader and a Policy Governance coach in various congregations, Paul knew the challenges this move would entail. He has a gift for laying out a vision and helping others discover its merits for themselves. At times, we wanted to stray from the model, but Paul kept us pointed to our true north and the outcome we wanted to achieve. Now, for the first time in the history of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, we have a complete and comprehensive set of policies. Throughout his engagement with us, Paul demonstrated strong, positive leadership. Paul cares about people. Like a true servant-leader, he seeks to bring out the best in everyone for sustainable long-term results.

You’re getting the best when you get Paul. He gives you everything he’s got to give with respect to Policy Governance^®. At Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Paul has been involved in Policy Governance from the beginning. Recently, he helped our board with a Policy Governance tune-up and walked us through a policy rewrite. He led this major effort with energy, experience, insight, and a potent combination of intellect and passion. They say there are pointers and there are painters. Paul effectively plays both roles. He both helped us realize the significant organizational shift of Policy Governance and drilled down into specifics because he possesses a profound grasp and appreciation of its principles and possibilities. Paul brought a powerful and focused intellect to bear in helping us grow in organizational effectiveness. He spent all-day sessions helping us define the Ends and Means, and he’s got the mental and physical endurance to keep us on track through that process resulting in clear accomplishment and a quality, workable product at the end of the day. Paul is also dedicated and trustworthy with very high ethics. He understands churches and has a passion for seeing churches be as effective as they can. Any organization that seeks to implement Policy Governance would benefit from working with Paul.