REALBoard Buzz™

Unlocking the Value of Every Boardroom Voice
In boardrooms everywhere, some of the most valuable insights go unspoken. I witnessed this firsthand when working with a board where two members seemed to fade into the wallpaper during crucial discussions. Their perspectives remained locked behind a barrier of...

Responding to Misconceptions and Objections About Policy Governance® – Part 2
In mid-January, we held a second webinar. It addressed the objections and misconceptions often heard about Policy Governance®. We know not everyone can attend a webinar. As with the first webinar, we want to share ideas for how to respond to the three misconceptions,...

How Much Thought Does Your Board Give to the Future?
It’s that time again – when forecasts for the coming year are making frequent appearances. In a recent podcast , Tom Standage, editor of The World Ahead by The Economist, candidly noted that their track record for previous forecasts was less than stellar. If the folks...

Have You Heard This One? Common Misconceptions about Policy Governance®
These days, many are unhappy with misinformation about a subject they care about. Before social media boosted misinformation, "myths" often surrounded Policy Governance." If you've spoken with board members or staff about adopting Policy Governance, you've likely...

Board Email Voting? Check this First…
On rare occasions, a board with a robust delegation system and a clear set of policies, may need to make a decision between board meetings. These days, it would be relatively easy to call a special meeting of the board to make the decision via video-conferencing. But...

Logically Speaking – A tool for developing Ends policies
I work with a wide variety of boards when they develop their Ends policies for the first time. I usually start by emphasizing that Ends describe the long-term results that the board wants the organization to produce. I remind board members that Ends state who should...

Where Should the Board Keep Its Socks?
I recently attended a board meeting where several board members were becoming frustrated with the Rules of Order written in their policies. One person commented, “This is why I don’t like Policy Governance®; because it forces us to run our meetings this way.” This...

Two “Make or Break” Leadership Values
Think about the last time you were trying to resolve an emotionally-laden issue within your family, your business team, or perhaps your church or service organization. What and how did you communicate? My wife has often said one of my greatest strengths is that I am...

Different Journeys for Different Boards
Recently I drove six hours in one direction to facilitate a workshop and then I drove another six hours home. (You might be wondering – why not fly? That was the original plan until I realized that it was actually going to take longer than driving.) I wanted a...

What’s Your Board’s DNA?
Have you ever pondered the “DNA” of your board? Simply described, DNA is the unique genetic code or instruction manual that helps our bodies thrive. What should be in the DNA of a thriving board? The structure of DNA is a “double helix” – two intertwined strands, with...