REALBoard Buzz™
Word Smith & Word Smart
I draft a lot of documents – reports, articles like this one, policies, memos, letters, bylaws, social media posts, etc. If you write a lot, it is easy to get caught up in trying to find the precise words to say what you mean. The dictionary defines ‘wordsmith’ as “an...
Presidential Slogans and the Power of Mission Statements
If you are a United States citizen, you may recall memorable slogans used by successful presidential candidates: “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too”, “Happy Days are Here Again”, “It’s Morning Again in America”, “Change We Can Believe In”, and “Making America Great Again” to...
How Does a Policy Governance Board Evaluate its CEO?
One of the most common questions I’m asked is “How does a Policy Governance® board evaluate its CEO?” Let me suggest that if your board is asking this question, it is asking the wrong one. If you hired someone to build a fence, you wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) evaluate the...
Where is Mr. Spock When You Need Him?
In previous careers, I have worked for a few CEOs of non-profit organizations in which the respective boards weren’t using Policy Governance®. Meetings of the board were always intriguing from the perspective of understanding what the board was thinking. Prior to a...
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...
It’s Not About Board Priorities
Your legal counsel has challenged you with the question: Has your board identified its priorities? Do you know what these priorities are? Your board has a huge responsibility. How is a board member supposed to keep track of everything that goes on within an...
Don’t Resolve – Commit!
Did your board make any New Year’s Resolutions? (I don’t mean the kind that say, “RESOLVED: to accept the budget.”) I’m here to suggest that your board NOT make resolutions. Too often, resolutions end up being wishful thinking. Unless they are truly a COMMITMENT,...
Happy Holidays & All the Best in 2017
Warmest wishes, Jannice Moore & The Governance Coach Team
Who’s Around the Table?
Are your board members chosen for name recognition? For their management skills? For their connections or fund-raising capacity? For their ability to work as a productive team? Boards and managers do very different yet equally essential work. Boards govern, not...
Holding On for Dear Life …… or Death!
In my days as a much younger man I was invited to join friends for a weekend of canoeing on a river which included some exciting sections of rapids. Although not requiring a high level of white-water skills, it was nonetheless challenging especially for a novice such...