As opposed to a CEO, who oversees the day-today tasks of an organisation, a board concentrates focus on the bigger picture and is accountable for making top-level decisions. The board is accountable for hiring and, if required, replacing a company’s chief executive officer as well as fulfilling the fiduciary responsibilities of the company to its shareholders and stakeholders.
A board that is effective and sociable will treat staff as a team, not as subordinates. The most reputable and thoughtful board members also listen to staff and treat them with equal respect, even when the member of the board disagrees with the employee’s views. Whatever the size of an organization, board members are required to take action in matters that affect the organization’s mission.
A key to effective governance of boards is the accuracy of meeting minutes. The minutes allow members who are not present to understand what happened at a meeting and help to define any strategies or metrics which require monitoring. Boards who take the time create clear, concise minutes will have a far easier time navigating legal challenges.
To learn more about how to write effective minutes for board meetings go through this blog post from SSIR. This blog is a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in board governance with particular attention paid to non-profit boards.
