REALBoard Buzz™
The Trick To Good Soup
As I mentioned in a previous blog, I’ve been exploring an emerging perspective on “Growth Mindset vs. Closed Mindset”. One of the leaders in this work is the Neuroleadership Institute. Their research indicates that the simple...
Boards Can Change the World; But Only with Gut-Wrenching Honesty
Worldwide protests sparked by the death of George Floyd have some asking if this will be the turning point in history that is so badly needed. Calls are being made for every institution at every level to tackle the pervasive and systemic racism. I’m a white male in...
Who Makes A Good Board Member?
I’m often asked what qualities distinguish a good board member from a not-so-good member, so that boards can try to recruit the former. In my opinion, there are three qualities. The first is a comprehensive understanding of the Policy Governance®...
PART 2: Does Your Board Need to Downsize Before it Implements Policy Governance®?
For Part 1, click here. You’re adopting Policy Governance – why would you consider downsizing? What are the possible benefits of a “smaller board”? One possible benefit is that with fewer members, you are more likely to hear everyone’s voice when talking...
PART 1: Does Your Board Need to Downsize Before it Implements Policy Governance®?
From time to time I like to Google the topic of board size – prompted either by a question I’ve been asked by a board – usually wanting to know the relationship between board size and effectiveness. Sometimes I go down the Google rabbit hole simply out of curiosity....
Are You Mything Out?
“Here’s why our board doesn’t use Policy Governance®.” It’s “one size fits all” It gives too much power to the CEO It only works in big organizations You can’t have committees It prescribes structures and size It’s too rigid Board members can’t talk to staff Directors...
When the Wheels Fall Off a Meeting
In my New Zealand-based governance consulting work, I’m privileged to work with a number of Māori tribal governance bodies. These are organisations which have been created (often by Act of Parliament) to govern the affairs of an iwi (or...
Board Business in a Virtual World
I just completed a weeklong meeting with an international organization that I chair. Normally, to minimize travel costs, we meet only twice a year for 5 days. Facing the restrictions for COVID-19 was daunting. Could we get...
Authority and Accountability
One of the features of the Policy Governance® system is its focus on accountability. In my experience, this feature sometimes provokes a negative reaction from observers who are not completely familiar with the system. I think this...
Post-Covid 19 Governance and the New Norm
I think it’s fair to say that I’m not the only one wondering: “When will this pandemic be over so that we can return to normal?” Of course, there are two absurdities to that question: a) no-one knows when it will be over; and b) we won’t be...