Key Characteristics of Good Board Management
| October 17, 2023Good board management is about the board’s structure, culture and decision-making processes, as and its employees. The most important characteristics of good management include a shrewd approach to behavior and an understanding of the board’s roles and responsibilities. Effective boards also know when they must refresh their focus and attract new ideas.
The right behavior is to not be unwilling to speak up and being respectful of the organization as well as the clinicians and management, and accepting board service as a part of citizenship. It is crucial to differentiate between management and governance, and to be aware of the impact of the board’s decisions on other members.
A clear understanding of the role of the board is crucial as is a well-constructed policy process. To fulfill the three major tasks of the board including setting strategy, making significant and strategic decisions and monitoring the organization’s activity, a robust policy process is required. Effective policies can help direct discussions, prevent duplication of effort and lessen the burden on management to create tangential information or excessively detailed data for the board.
A well-organized agenda for meetings can enhance the efficiency of your board meeting. The best method to organize an agenda is to break it down into items for information action, strategic discussion and information. This helps the board better understand its responsibilities, and also eliminates any concerns that it might be required to take a vote on items that are informational. It is important to have clear guidelines for committees and task forces, as well as an approach to avoid duplicate work. It is also helpful to have an appointed corporate secretary to aid in the management of information, arrange meetings, and create comprehensive materials for boards that include pertinent background documents.