Top Board Management Principles

Board management is the process of directing the activities of board members. It includes a variety of tasks ranging from arranging meetings, sharing information, and establishing clear roles and responsibility. The term “board” is often associated with executives at the top, but the concept can be applied to any group of individuals who collaborate to make decisions within an organization. Controlling these task groups or boards, effectively directly affects the success of an organization.

One of the most important things to remember when managing your board is that your board members read at contactboardroom.com are leaders in their own right. As chairperson, your role is to guide them on the right path, not impose your will on how they accomplish their duties. Keeping this in mind can help you avoid common mistakes that boards make.

Beware of the “groupthink” trap:

Groupthink is a tendency of members to join with others and reinforce viewpoints they already share which can lead to poor decision-making. The best way to avoid groupthink is to include a variety of perspectives into the boardroom. This will help you to understand the opportunities and risks your company faces more precisely.

Make sure your board members have the right intel before every meeting:

This is particularly important for directors who aren’t familiar with the business of the company. To prevent them from being surprised by the material that is discussed during a meeting, send board decks two to three days prior to the meeting so that they can read them and add comments or questions. Ted suggests that board syncs be conducted every quarter to collect input and coordinate members between meetings. This can be accomplished using a board portal, like iBabs. It facilitates collaboration between meeting and lets directors monitor engagement and follow up on action items easily.