Webinar Replay: What Makes an Effective Charitable Board in 2024 and Beyond?

In this webinar, our expert panel, including Dr Alice Maynard CBE, Dr Philip Goodwin and Mike Maddick, explored key strategies for enhancing charitable board performance in 2024 and beyond. The webinar provided key insights from the perspectives of a Chair, CEO, Trustee, and HR Director.
 

Here are the key takeaways:

• Have a Clear Mission, Vision, and Values: Establishing and communicating the core mission, vision, and values of the organisation is fundamental to its success and alignment.
• CEO and Chair Must Have a Shared Endeavour: The CEO and Chair need to work collaboratively towards common goals, ensuring alignment and mutual support.
• Be Curious as a Board Member: Board members should actively seek to understand the organisation, ask questions, and engage with its operations and challenges.
• Understand What Information is Needed and How to Present It: Present relevant information concisely and effectively to the board, as their time is limited. Prioritise critical data and insights.
• Do Not Manage the Board: The board is there to provide healthy challenge and support and so foster a culture of constructive dialogue rather than attempting to manage the board.
• Tight Chairing to Avoid Circular Conversations: The Chair should facilitate focused discussions, avoiding repetitive and unproductive conversations.
• Recognise Positive and Destructive Behaviours on the Board: Be aware of explicit and implicit relationships within the board. Identify and address both positive and destructive behaviours that create 'false harmony.'
• Inclusive Behaviours for New Board Members: Ensure that new board members feel welcomed and included. Foster an environment that values diverse perspectives.
• Board's Reaction to Bad News: Observe and manage how the board responds to negative news. Encourage a proactive and solution-focused approach as this leads to better quality, open conversations which is healthy for the charity.
• Explicit Contract Between Board and Senior Leadership: Establish clear agreements and expectations between the board and senior leadership.
• Board's Legal and Fiduciary Responsibility: Recognise the significant legal and fiduciary responsibilities of the board. However, do not let fear drive decisions; focus on informed and balanced governance.

These takeaways emphasise the importance of clear communication, collaboration, curiosity, and constructive governance in ensuring effective board operations.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or would like to discuss the topics further.