Board management is the process of overseeing the work of board members. It involves a wide variety of activities, from scheduling meetings and sharing information to developing clear roles and responsibilities. The word “board” is often associated with high-level executives, but the concept can be applied to any group of individuals who collaborate to make decisions in an organisation. The management of these task groups, or ‘boards’, efficiently directly impacts the success of an organisation.

When governing your board, it is important to remember that your members are all leaders in their own way. As chairperson, your job is to guide them along the right path, not control how they carry out their responsibilities. This can help you avoid the common mistakes made by boards.

Avoid the “groupthink trap”:

Groupthink is a tendency for members to align themselves with each other and reinforce views they already agree on which can result in poor decision-making. The best method to avoid groupthink is to bring a variety of perspectives into the boardroom. This helps you understand more clearly the opportunities and risks your company faces.

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

This is especially important for directors who might not be aware of the company’s specific industry. To avoid being stunned by the topics discussed in a meeting you should send the decks to board members 2 to 3 days prior to the meeting, so they can go through and add comments or ask questions. Ted also suggests conducting quarterly syncs of the board to collect input and align board members during meetings. This can be accomplished with an online portal for boards like iBabs, which facilitates collaboration between meetings and allows directors to monitor engagement and follow up on action items easily.

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