What to do with a Bored BoardPresented by

Michelle Taylor, Matrix on Board Consulting

Signs of Board boredom

Rubber Stamping CEO Decisions

Micro-managing

All talk no action

Don’t read Board papers

No questions or irrelevant questions

Where’s the Passion?

Where’s the Purpose?

Reignite the Passion

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Realign the Purpose

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Put the TEAM to WORK

Fixing the problem(s)….

Why did you join this Board?

Why did you join this Board?

Why did you join this Board?

What is this Board’s role?

What is this Board’s purpose?

What will be this Board’s legacy?

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Put people where their passion is

Have a Board plan

Individual & collective monitoring

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Who is responsible?

Effective Boards

Board Evaluation

Strategic Planning

Board Action &

Development Planning

Board Recruitment & Induction

Board Evaluation

Board Evaluation

Encourage reflection

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Analyse how the team works together

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Pointy questions about achievements

and legacy

Context• Previous 2 years – major changes and challenges• Relatively new Chairperson• Accreditation agency required ‘work on Governance’

ObjectiveHow can we be the

best Board ever?

Methodology1. Document Review + discussions with CEO and Chair2. Online Survey3. Interviews (one on one)

Board Evaluation Case Study

• Online survey = “To give back to the community”• Interviews = distinct and diverse passions and motivations• A few Board members didn’t really know why they where there

0• Online survey = “Everyone knows what their job is, we are great”• Interviews = “We don’t have a Strategic Direction”• Nobody could identify any significant value added by the Board

0• Online survey = “Meetings run on time, everyone is civil”• Interviews = formal meetings stifling some people• ‘New’ members deferring to ‘Old’ members

Evaluation Findings

Most effective questions were:• Is there a particular part of this organisation that you are most

passionate about?• What value do you add to this Board?• In what way has this Board influenced or changed this

organisation in the past 12 months?• If you were going to start the organisation from scratch, how

would you go about it?• Describe your Board in three words

Evaluation Outcomes

• PCC Board realised how good they could be and needed to be

• Strategic Planning workshops held

• In Camera sessions & different meeting styles

• Renewed commitment (and energy)

• New members are speaking up

• Operational reports quarterly instead of monthly

In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless but

planning is

indispensable. (Dwight D Eisenhower)

Strategic Planning

VisionMissionValues

Strategic Goals

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Board Action Planning

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Board sets the vision and parameters

Managers/staff figure out how to get it done

Context• Momentum achieved from Board Evaluation• Old Strategic Plan designed by CEO, internal focus• Strategic Direction urgently needed

Objective• Set the Strategic

Direction• Enthusiasm!!

Methodology1. Submissions requested from Board Members2. Two workshops3. Strict focus on VISION and MISSION

Strategic Planning Case Study

Strategic Planning Outcomes

• Board members found their shared passion(s)

• There is a Strategic Framework – and the Plan is coming

• Board discovered a visionary role for their organisation

• Board have taken up their relationship management role

• Board have their own Action Plan

• Strategy is discussed at every Board Meeting

Board Action & Development Plan

Put people to work in the areas they are passionate about

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Accountability

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Board’s own goals linked to the Strategic

Plan

What is our role?

What our purpose?

What will be our legacy?

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- Represent PCC as leaders in the community- Long term financial planners- Governance not management

- Be catalysts for self determination in our region- Ensure that PCC thrives

- Strong internal systems & structures- Established, productive partnerships

Board recruitment & induction

Board recruitment & induction

Go after who you need

Ask the right questions and remember the

answers

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Plan for integrating new members

Ongoing check ins

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Set objectives for individual

achievements

Why did you join this Board?

Why did you join this Board?

Why did you join this Board?

Ask the right questions

Act on the answers

Have a plan

Pay attention

Next webinar

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QUESTIONS?