Tip #95 How Can Boards Assess Their Own Performance?

August 1, 2023  |  tips for effective boards

Some ideas for boards assessing their own performance follow:   1.       Ongoing self-monitoring of board performance. A board can monitor its performance related to its board job description and any other

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Tip #94 Should Boards Follow Robert's Rules of Order?

July 1, 2023

  Let’s begin by talking briefly about the origin of Robert’s Rules of Order. Robert’s Rules of Order, a manual of parliamentary procedure, was developed by U. S. Army officer Henry Martyn Robert and was first

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Tip #93 How Many Board Policies Should a Board of Directors Have?

June 1, 2023  |  tips for effective boards

In my consulting work with boards of directors, I have worked with boards that have few to no board policies and with boards that have over 400 board policies. Imagine being on a board with over 400 policies. Can you be

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Tip #92 Determine Your Organization's "Why," Its Purpose

May 1, 2023  |  tips for effective boards

Having a clear understanding of your organization’s purpose or why it exists is critical to your organization’s success. And, without an understanding of what constitutes your organization’s success, how can you

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Tip #91 How to Use a Consent Agenda?

April 1, 2023  |  tips for effective boards

A consent agenda is a board meeting mechanism designed to achieve efficient use of board meeting time. Significant amounts of time can be saved for more important matters. A consent agenda is a section of the board

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Tip #90 What's the Board's Role regarding Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Justice?

March 1, 2023  |  tips for effective boards

Let’s begin with very brief descriptions of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Justice.   Equity: People have equal access to the services and benefits offered by organizations.   Diversity: People are respected

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Tip #89 "The Board Speaks with One Voice." What Does This Really Mean?

February 1, 2023  |  tips for effective boards

The statement “The Board Speaks with One Voice” can be misleading since it can be open to different interpretations.   One interpretation of “speaking with one voice” is that a group that is “speaking with

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Tip #88 Should Boards Think Systemically?

January 1, 2023  |  tips for effective boards

What does it mean to think systemically? I’m not talking here about thinking systematically, that is, in a logical orderly fashion. Of course, that’s important. Rather, I’m talking about thinking in terms of

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