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Assessing Board Practices
| Guest post by: Eric Douglas |
Article Overview: Looking to assess board practices? Here is a survey you can let your board members take anonymously.
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Free Download - The 20 Qualities of Good Leadership By Eric Douglas |
Assessing Board Practices
Looking to assess board practices? Here is a survey you can let your board members take anonymously.
Use the following scale to answer each question: A score of 1 means you do not agree with the statement; 4 means you agree with it; a 2 or 3 means your opinion falls somewhere in the middle.
Strategic Vision
1. Our board has set up concrete goals for the organization. _ _ _ _
2. Board members act in relation to concrete goals and objectives. _ _ _ _
3. The organization's values guide the board's every move. _ _ _ _
4. Our board has a yardstick to measure its performance. _ _ _ _
5. The board consistently review its peformance. _ _ _ _
Change Management
6. Our board takes the lead in changing the organization. _ _ _ _
7. Our board inspires people to improve. _ _ _ _
8. Our board adheres new ideas and approaches. _ _ _ _
9. Board members are open to talk on things they don't agree with. _ _ _ _
Analysis and Judgment
10. Our board pinpoints problems it needs to address. _ _ _ _
11. Our board seeks relevant information and data for solving problems. _ _ _ _
12. Our board draws accurate, logical, objective inferences from information available. _ _ _ _
13. Board members offer constructive criticism with each other. _ _ _ _
14. Our board finds solutions to every problem we face. _ _ _ _
Decisiveness
15. Our board is aimed at getting to the core of the problem. _ _ _ _
16. Our board is prepared in making tough decisions. _ _ _ _
17. Our board has a "priority first" stand when it comes to decision-making. _ _ _ _
18. Our board holds itself accountable for its actions. _ _ _ _
19. Our board makes important decisions based on its understandings of the issues therein. _ _ _
Planning
20. Our board engages in regular long-range planning. _ _ _ _
21. Our board develops clear statements of the goals it seeks. _ _ _ _
22. Our board anticipates problems and responds accordingly. _ _ _ _
23. Our board manages its own performance effectively. _ _ _ _
24. An annual schedule of activities guide the board members. _ _ _ _
Meetings
25. Board meetings have a definite goal. _ _ _ _
26. Our board meetings have a clear agenda. _ _ _ _
27. Our board gets things done at our meetings. _ _ _ _
28. Board meetings are managed well. _ _ _ _
Productive Communication
29. Board members communicates positively to one another. _ _ _ _
30. Different communication styles are exhibited by board members. _ _ _ _
31. Board members are honest with each other. _ _ _ _
32. Board members admit what they don't know and ask for help. _ _ _ _
33. Our board makes sure its decisions are well understood by board members and staff. _ _ _ _
Building and Maintaining Relationships
34. A friendly connection among board members must be encouraged. _ _ _ _
35. Board members give weight to each other's opinion. _ _ _ _
36. Board members seek out opportunities for informal communication. _ _ _ _
37. Board members trust one another. _ _ _ _
38. Board members should always act as one and help one another in tough situations. _ _ _ _
39. Board members raise difficult issues with each other. _ _ _ _
Drive and Resilience
40. Dedication, passion and enthusiasm must be displayed by our board members. _ _ _ _
41. Our board is motivated. _ _ _ _
42. Our board remains calm even under tough circumstances. _ _ _ _
43. Our board displays confidence even at the toughest circumstances. _ _ _ _
44. Our board is governed by concrete policies. _ _ _ _
45. I am clear about my individual decision-making authority as a board member. _ _ _ _
46. Our board coordinates its decisions with staff effectively. _ _ _ _
47. Our board centers its attention on things within its scope. _ _ _ _
48. Our board has the right committees in place. _ _ _ _
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Article Tags: assessing corporate boards, board assessment, board development, board members, board practices
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Just A Hello From newbie
- Hello All its Adalia From Yucca Valley , California . i just want to say that i'm glad i join this Board , Such a nice Board with lots of info, can spend hours here reading all the great post.
Thanks
Advisory Board - Steps 9 & 10
- Hey Everyone - Sorry for the delay. I have been battling the flu the last few days which has been brutal. But I guess I cant complain, my jeans are loose and I'm down 6 pounds in 72 hours. ;0) Pretty soon I will be back at my high school weight of 117 only 5 more to go! ;0)
Anyway, onto the last two steps for setting up your Advisory Board. The caveat with each of these steps is that it is YOUR board. You decide what you want and need and then work it out so it delivers.
Step 9) Keep your Board Members Informed
There's nothing worse than having a great team of advisors - who dont know what's going on.
Once you have your board in place, its important to keep them motivated and excited about your business by giving them updates at times when you arent soliciting their advice. The fact that they have agreed to be on your board means they care about your company - so keeping them up to date will help them be of greater value to you. They are champions and evangelists for your business - commit to giving them constant communications so they can share the message.
10) Fire Bad Board Members.
if you realize you have made a bad choice, get rid of him or her as fast as you can. Because your advisor board is not a formal board of advisors you wont have the typical legal issues - but you will have a good management/leadership task on your plate. Tread carefully and lightly but remember that the longer a 'bad seed' sticks around, the longer it takes to remove the 'stench' after they are gone.
Just think Omarosa - and cut em loose!
This can be very uncomfortable but if you act with integrity and are really upfront about what you need, you should be able to bypass having to let anyone go. Go slow in bringing your board together - perhaps have existing advisors talk with / interview potential new advisors in order to confirm your decision of fit.
Good luck!
I'm here to help!
Jude
Re: I am a newbie to this forum
- Yes, on the Board Index page there is a search where you can see what we already have going. If you are looking for a particular subject, that's a great place to start and it keeps us from having multiple threads on the same subject.
Re: What inspires you?
- Put a Visual Board of your dream and look at it for 10 days. And see the fun.
Another inspiration thing is to have "Constant Positive Affirmations". This really shifts energy towards your goal. Say it in the morning and before bed.
Robert
Forming an advisory board
- [quote="TheRainmaker":2vn60npf]As far as isolation goes, I found the concept of building an Advisory Board/Team to be a huge benefit. With my team I can talk freely and openly and I have made some lifelong friendships to boot.[/quote:2vn60npf]
Hi Jude,
Can you share some tips on how you first started your advisory board? Was it originally just family and friends or were you able to recruit some of your customers from the very beginning?
Thanks
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