Effectiveness of management at the board level is a crucial aspect of board governance. The effectiveness of the board is determined by a variety of factors such as its composition (the right mix of skills and experiences) and the effectiveness of meetings and the culture of open communication and the capacity to engage in real conversations, especially difficult ones. The more efficient a Board is and the more efficient it is to determine strategic direction and test the performance of an organisation.
The annual board self-assessment process could range from a simple questionnaire to an interview conducted by a third party. This will provide insight into the board dynamics and maturity levels. These assessments can help boards to determine how they are performing against best practices and develop strategies for improvement for areas that require improvement.
The most important factor in the effectiveness of board management is to create a culture in which directors see themselves as partners, not adversaries. This can be fostered through training for board development and through encouraging refreshment of the board, which includes the willingness to review the mandatory retirement schedules or terms limits.
A great way to increase productivity between meetings is to allow directors to share information and access it through specialized communication tools, such as discussion boards and remote voting. This can help reduce the necessity for lengthy meetings in person and also ensure that all actions and tasks are completed on time. In the end, board members are able to spend less time on administrative work and more time driving change.