A successful organisation uses the time of its board and staff wisely. Keeping meetings focussed on outcomes is an important way to ensure time is not wasted. This requires careful planning and management before, during and after meetings. What do I need to do to ensure meetings are effective? Given that the bulk of …
Celebrating and improving governance The United Kingdom is regarded as a world-leader in good corporate governance. Sometimes we forget this, particularly when we are faced with press reports of a corporate scandal. However, the recent Financial Reporting Council (FRC) report on ‘Developments in Corporate Governance and Stewardship 2014’ highlights a generally strong corporate governance culture. …
Did you ever think about speaking up in a board meeting and then decide not to because you didn’t want to be impolite or seem like a misfit? If so, you may have been a victim of “Groupthink”. Groupthink is a phenomenon that occurs when the desire for group consensus overrides people’s common sense desire …
Embedding Good Governance When you hear the word ‘governance’, what do you think of? Value for money? Risk and compliance? Box ticking? If any of these spring to mind, you’re not alone. However, what good governance is really about, is developing a culture which allows your organisation to thrive. Well-governed organisations are a joy …
Embedding Good Governance in Organisational Culture – A Journey, Not a Destination Read More »
Critical Conversations at Board Level Being a board member requires balance in many ways. We have collective responsibility, so we need to work as an effective team. We also have individual legal duties, so we need to recognise that responsibility and live up to it. Sometimes the hardest part of board membership is when difficult …
9 tips for Critical Conversations at Board Level Read More »
The first step to good governance is having the right people in the room. With the right people, any problem may be dealt with. A well thought out person specification can help you get the right people. A person specification outlines the skills, knowledge, behaviours and qualities needed for someone to be effective in a …
Get the Right Board Team by Perfecting Your Person Specifications Read More »
Last month it was reported that the English National Opera (ENO) had been dropped from the Arts Council’s national portfolio of organisations for 2015-18 and placed “under special funding arrangements”. According to the BBC, Arts Council England said the ENO must improve its governance and business model or face funding cuts. It said it would …
Practice good governance or sing for your supper Read More »
As the most senior officer in the organisation, it is vital that the board ensures the performance of the chief executive officer (CEO) is reviewed on a regular basis. We believe that a well-conducted review is a gift to the leader, as it helps them to realise their full potential while ensuring the organisation’s strategy …
CEO Performance Review: A Practical Guide for the Board Read More »
Love them or hate them, the vast majority of work done by boards is done in meetings. Knowing how to have effective and productive meetings is a key skill for any board team. This involves having the right content, in the form of a well thought out agenda, informative briefing papers, and challenging discussions regarding …
This month we’re looking at effective board meetings and this week we’re focussing on meeting preparation. A bit of time invested in meeting preparation will pay off and provide for a better use of time for everyone involved. Try asking yourself: What is this meeting for? It may sound obvious, but the first step in …
