Being an Effective Chair

Beacon Programme – Webinar

#BeaconProgrammeTwitter @AssocOfChairs

Webinar leader: Janine Edwards

How this webinar works

• How do I ask a question?

• Can others hear what I say?

• Using the chat function:• Use the function: write the name of the organisation of which you are Chair or Vice

Chair

• How to take part in a poll/getting to know whose here: • Test poll: How long have you been Chair or Vice Chair

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Association of Chairs

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• We support Chairs and Vice Chairs of charities and non-profit organisations to lead their boards effectively and ensure delivery of their organisation’s mission

• What we do: we provide practical guidance and governance support tailored to the needs of Chairs, and enable Chairs to support each other

• What we believe: good chairing is key to: • Maximizing a charity’s impact • A well-run organisation• Supporting effective decision making • Being sustainable and responding to change

About the programme

• We believe that good chairing matters for all charities

• Chairs of smaller charities face specific challenges

• Aim: to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence of Chairs and Vice Chairs of smaller charities in England with an income of under £1 million

• Focus on four areas • Being an effective Chair – Know your role and how to be effective

• Strengthening your organisation – Develop the strategy, resources and processes to succeed

• Managing relationships and board dynamics – Create a productive board culture

• Developing an effective board – Develop a high functioning and effective team

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About the programme

• Each of these four areas will be addressed through a range of activities • 4 half day workshops delivered in 9 locations • Live webinars for each of the four areas plus a series of short video content • Written resources• Our monthly Beacon Bulletin• Online surgeries• Platform for connecting with other Chairs (online and offline)

• You can access all of the useful tools and resources referenced in this webinar on the AoC website https://www.associationofchairs.org.uk/beacon/resources-for-chairs/

• The programme is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund till June 2020

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Overview of today’s webinar

• Overview of your role and responsibilities

• Understand what can help you be more effective

• Have practical tools to help you run effective meetings

• The chance to gain some tips and insights from other Chairs of smaller charities

Throughout we will signpost you to useful resources – all available from https://www.associationofchairs.org.uk/beacon/resources-for-

chairs/effective-chair/

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The role of Chair

• Legal status – common misconceptions e.g. casting vote (unless stated in your governing document)

• However a good Chair plays a different role to others on the board:

• Leading the trustee board in fulfilling its responsibilities

• Enabling trustees to contribute and add value to the work of the organisation

• Ensuring effective governance and that the charity acts in accordance with its governing document

• Chairing meetings, ensuring all board members contribute

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Additional roles

Additional roles that may (but not necessarily) be performed by the Chair include:

• Acting as a spokesperson for the charity

• Support and supervision of the CEO (if the charity employs one)

• Communication between staff and trustees or volunteers and trustees if the charity does not have any staff

• Leading on board development

• Leading on strategic planning

• Ensuring board actions are implemented

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What additional roles do you undertake as Chair?

Use the chat function to share.

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A Chair’s Compass

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• Leadership: being willing and able to lead the organisation in partnership with the CEO, if you have one.

• Clarity of purpose: ensuring the organisation has a clear direction and is achieving its aims.

• Cohesive board: harnessing the skills, energy and experience of the board team to its common purpose

• Constructive relationships: ensuring a myriad of different relationships are working so that the organisation delivers

• Considered decision-making: stewarding the decision-making process to ensure sound decisions are made

What are the two areas of ‘A Chair’s Compass’ that you have found the most challenging?

(Complete the poll)

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A Chair’s Compass

A Chair’s Compass

What have you found helpful in addressing the areas most commonly identified?

Use the hands up function to share (we will unmute you!)

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What actions can you take to address a challenge that you have identified in your Chair’s Compass self-assessment?

Add these to your action plan.

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Useful tools and resources • A Chair’s Compass: A guide for Chairs of Charities and non-

profit organisations, Association of Chairs • Top Tips: Helping your board made good decisions

Ineffective board meetings– what we hear

Meeting etiquette• Late cancellations or arriving late/leaving early• Lack of preparation – not reading papers• Individuals talking over one another - or not talking at all!• Meetings running over time

Quality of information• Too much / too little• The wrong information• Conflicting information

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Ineffective board meetings– what we hear

Focus of meetings• Getting into long conversations on operational detail• Focussed on the past, inward-looking; rather than the future and outward

looking

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Useful tools and resources• Top Tips: Planning for good board meetings

Preparing for good board meetings

• Schedule your meetings well in advance

• Make sure you know what your governing document says about your meetings

• Involve your CEO (or equivalent) in planning board meetings

• Ensure the agenda is balanced and focused

• Put estimated timings in for agenda items

• Schedule important items early on the agenda

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Preparing for good board meetings

• Make sure everyone understands which are decisions for the board to make

• Hold your meetings in a pleasant environment – little things make a difference!

• Ensure good quality papers are circulated in advance.

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Useful tools and resources • Top Tips: Preparing for good board meetings • Tool: The Chief Executive or Operational Report • Charities and meeting (CC48), Charity Commission • Effective board reporting, ICSA

Have you found anything else helpful in terms of making the most of your board meetings?

Use the chat function to share.

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Preparing for good board meetings

Preparing for good board meetings

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What two improvements you could make in preparing for your board meetings?

Add these to your action plan

Final tips: Chairs on chairing

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• Know yourself, know your board –and be yourself• Know your strengths and areas for

development• Get to know your trustees, their

qualities and skills

• Keep focused on the strategic issues• Carefully plan for meetings• Ensure good quality papers

• Help others to shine• Consider pre-board / setting the

scene meeting• Create a culture of support and

challenge• Make meetings enjoyable• Hold back on expressing your own

view

Other useful sources of support

• Association of Chairs: https://www.associationofchairs.org.uk/beacon/

• Cranfield Trust: https://www.cranfieldtrust.org/

• FSI: http://www.thefsi.org/

• Local CVS/Voluntary Action – find yours here: https://navca.org.uk/find-a-member-1

• NCVO: https://www.ncvo.org.uk/

• Small Charities Coalition: https://www.smallcharities.org.uk/

• ICSA: https://www.icsa.org.uk/

• Locality: https://locality.org.uk/services-tools/support-for-community-

organisations/governance/

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Review and Q&A

• Are there any outstanding questions? Hands up!

• Review your action plan – is there anything you want to add?

• Become an AoC member

• Upcoming events

• We have posted the link to our Survey Monkey questionnaire in the chat function and will also email this to you. Please do complete it, we really appreciate your feedback.

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