Board Role Archives - The Governance Coach

We’ve Always Done it This Way…

Posted by Jannice Moore
On April 8, 2021
Board Agendas, Board Meetings, Board Role

As I cleared away the remainder of our Easter ham this week, I was reminded of an old story. “Mom, why do you always cut the end off the ham before cooking it?” asked the youngster. “Well, that’s the way my mother always did it.” “But why did she do it that way? “I don’t […]

Board Intervention does Not Guarantee Better Decisions

Posted by Richard Stringham
On March 11, 2021
Accountability, Board Role, Values

Several years ago, I was coaching a board which had recently issued a public position statement on behalf of its organization. Unfortunately, the position it took was based on inadequate information and damaged the credibility of some of the association’s members, in addition to the association’s credibility. The irony was that the board had a […]

Boards In The Future

Posted by Dee Incoronato
On January 7, 2021
Board Recruitment, Board Role

What will board composition be like in the future? When thinking about future board members there is a danger in assuming everyone in a demographic grouping is alike. However, there are some basic similarities that reflect the characteristics of different generations which may be useful in imagining governance for the future. Who Will They Be? […]

Strategic Importance of Effective Board Education

Posted by Paul Zilz
On September 16, 2020
Board Development, Board Role, Strategic Focus

The Jewish Torah tells a compelling story of a Middle Eastern shepherd encountering a bush that burns but is not consumed. The shepherd, known by the name of Moses, was curious and approached the bush only to be called in a new direction by the God known by the Jewish people as Yahweh. This encounter led to Moses taking an entirely new life path that led […]

Who Makes A Good Board Member?

Posted by David Gray
On June 10, 2020
Board Recruitment, Board Role

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® system. Yes, I’m completely biased in this respect, but I regard the system as the […]

Why shouldn’t a board approve the CEO’s plans?

Posted by Rose Mercier
On February 26, 2020
Accountability, Any Reasonable Interpretation, Board Role

One of the changes a board experiences when it begins to use Policy Governance® is a move away from a more traditional decision-making process where the CEO requires the board’s approval before proceeding with any plan. Instead, it delegates authority to the CEO to achieve its policies (reasonably interpreted, of course) using whatever plans the CEO determines are necessary. First the board must determine the benefits to be produced, who is to benefit, and the worth of producing those […]

Tradition or Renewal?

Posted by Eric Phinney
On February 19, 2020
Board Role

Is your board a product of many years of tradition with a few tweaks thrown in by well-meaning experts or based on books read by members? Perhaps it is time for an overhaul? But wait, things are working, sort of, and we wouldn’t want to change too much too fast. If you know there are […]

Why is Discipline a Dirty Word for Some Board Members?

Posted by Richard Stringham
On January 22, 2020
Board Leadership, Board Role, Board Self-Evaluation

In this age of disruption, what follows might seem heresy. We are encouraged to think outside the box, to view our businesses differently. I’ve no quarrel with that. But I’ve been witnessing some boards in which board members are shirking discipline and, in some cases, doing so because they want to make changes. Again, I don’t […]

The Powerful Nature of Conversation

Posted by Dee Incoronato
On November 21, 2019
Board Role, Owners and Ownership

While I was working on my doctoral degree in Organization Development, one professor emphasized the powerful nature of conversation in an organization. She pointed out repeatedly the many ways language creates change and in the process of conversation, change emerged. Ralph D. Stacey in his book Strategic Management and Organizational Dynamics: The Challenge of Complexity […]

The Board and Tone at the Top

Posted by Ted Hull
On October 2, 2019
Board Role, Executive Limitations

Tone at the top is about an ethical culture where all employees feel responsible for doing the right thing. Since the board is at the top of the organization, what’s the board’s role in ensuring ethical culture? One of the best definitions of culture I’ve heard is it’s just the way we do it.  Every organization […]

The Danger of an Executive Committee

Posted by Ted Hull
On July 10, 2019
Board Role, Committees

It’s been around since time immemorial and every board has one. It’s the executive committee. This sacrosanct group is usually made up of the officers of the board; typically the chair, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer. Its daunting mandate can include making decisions for the board in the event of an emergency, and doing the business […]

Building CEO and Board Success – Part 3 of 3

Posted by Richard Onley
On May 7, 2019
Board Role

In our last blog, we discussed the difference between best practices vs. principles and how this can impact on bringing clarity to the board – CEO relationship. We began to examine the Policy Governance® model and how it can bring role clarity and create excellent communication between the board and CEO. Let’s discuss one of […]

Building CEO and Board Success – Part 2 of 3

Posted by Richard Onley
On April 30, 2019
Board Leadership, Board Role

Last week, I examined the issue of the board’s contribution to CEO failure and discussed whether best practices could be the answer. What about the principle-based approach? Principles are based on a fundamental or general truth that provides people with guidelines to make better decisions in changing circumstances. Well-considered principles will impact a broad set […]

Building CEO and Board Success Part 1 of 3

Posted by Richard Onley
On April 23, 2019
Board Role

Is the CEO and Board Success Mutually Exclusive? In February 2018, Chief Executive Magazine reported: “One of the top reasons CEO’s stated for lack of success was ”the inability to build a connection with the Board” followed by “failure to manage the Board.” The article went on to discuss best practices and success strategies including developing an engagement plan to target each board member. Consider […]

Can a Policy Governance® Board do Fundraising?

Posted by Ted Hull
On March 5, 2019
Board Role, Clear Delegation, Fundraising

When a not-for-profit organization recruits board members, one of the desired – and even required – criteria is the capacity to raise funds. How well a candidate is connected with those who have deeps pockets and are more likely to reach into those pockets is a coveted asset. If you are on a Policy Governance […]

Does Your Board Govern as if It’s the “Top Dog” of the Organization?

Posted by Paul Zilz
On September 4, 2018
Board Role, Ends, Owners and Ownership

This is a fundamental, but often overlooked, question for your board to ask: “What is our position and our role in this organization?” The way your board answers this question will determine, to a large extent, its focus and its processes. Many boards assume that they are “at the top of the food chain,” that […]