Board Development

 

These are the two issues that most often impede Board effectiveness:
Corporate Boards or Volunteer Board are usually made up of a wide range of people with varying levels of ability, commitment and availability. It is for this reason that organizational structure for the Board is extremely important. Even a group of professionals who subscribe to the same basic tenets require a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities associated with Board participation. 
This understanding makes everyone’s job easier – the more smoothly the Board operates - the greater the productivity.
Job descriptions for staff and Board members help to clarify expectations and can reduce the miscommunication that can have people working at cross-purposes. Job descriptions are part of a functional reporting structure that ensures the authority of the responsible parties. They also help to keep workloads manageable.
Once the reporting structure and job descriptions are in place, you may wish to develop a Director’s Handbook which can be a useful tool for experienced, new and aspiring Board members. The handbook provides continuity in decision-making as the regular turnover and the unexpected changes take place in the Board environment.
A structure that guides the Board decision-making process helps to create, maintain and increase credibility among those with whom the Board interacts and is an integral part of ensuring Board relevance in an ever-changing business world. When people can depend on the way the Board operates – who’s doing what – who’s responsible for what – they tend to respond positively with much greater respect for what the Board is trying to achieve.       
Among others, Board Development activities include: