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Fundamentals of Effective board Governance

Fundamentals of Effective board Governance . North Texas Unitarian Universalist Congregations February 8, 2014. Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12. General Session Objectives. Why is good governance important? Overview Effective Board Governance models

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Fundamentals of Effective board Governance

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  1. Fundamentals of Effective board Governance North Texas Unitarian Universalist Congregations February 8, 2014 Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  2. NTUUC General Session Objectives • Why is good governance important? • Overview Effective Board Governance models • Describe six primary functions of boards • Examine modes of governance • Assess your board’s effectiveness together • Approach governance as a spiritual practice and shared ministry Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  3. NTUUC Board Effectiveness • “There is one thing all boards have in common…They do not function.” Drucker, 1974 • “Ninety-five percent (of boards) are not fully doing what they are legally, morally, and ethically supposed to do.” Geneen, 1984 • “Boards tend to be…incompetent groups of competent individuals.” John and Miriam Carver, 2001 Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  4. NTUUC Definition of Governance Seeing to it that the organization achieves what it should and avoids unacceptable situations. John Carver Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  5. NTUUC Benefits of Good Governance • Provides continuity of board leadership • Provides transparency and consistency in decision making • Creates methods for urgent action that can foster responsiveness • Protects the organization • Focus on purpose, vision and growth Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  6. NTUUC Six Primary Functions of the Board • Visioning • Policy making • Stewardship • Sponsorship • Advocacy • Consultancy Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  7. Visioning and Policy-making Should be at the forefront of the board’s work, in collaboration with the congregation’s professional and volunteer staff. NTUUC Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  8. As stewards … Board holds the congregation’s assets in trust, including moral and other intangible assets. NTUUC Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  9. As sponsors … Board should collectively be among the most generous supporters of the congregation with both time and money NTUUC Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  10. As advocates … Board represents interests of the congregation as an institution both to its own members and, even more importantly, to the wider community. NTUUC Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  11. As consultants … Board members are available to the staff – at the staff’s invitation – to provide counsel and encouragement from their particular areas of expertise NTUUC Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  12. NTUUC Board Team Assessment – Part 1 • Choose convener, scribe, and timekeeper • Assess your board’s maturity (low, medium, high) on each of the six functions: • Visioning, policy making, stewardship, sponsorship, advocacy, and consultancy • Discuss how to move the board’s maturity to a higher level Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  13. NTUUC Six Primary Functions of a BoardKey Messages • Most boards are well-intentioned but not fully effective • Effective Governance keeps the board focused on its role • Effective Governance provides continuity in leadership • Effective Governance sets the framework for decision-making transparency • Maturing as a board is a journey

  14. NTUUC Models vs. Modes Richard Chait and his colleagues argue that we should shift emphasize to modes over models in seeking to govern well. Source: Richard Chait, William Ryan and Barbara Taylor, Governance As Leadership: Reframing the Work of Non-profit Boards (Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2005) Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  15. NTUUC Governance as Leadership Type 2: Strategic Type 1:Fiduciary Type 3: Generative Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  16. NTUUC Type I: Fiduciary Governance Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  17. NTUUC Type II: Strategic Governance Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  18. NTUUC What is Generative Thinking? A cognitive process for deciding what to pay attention to, what it means, and what to do about it. Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  19. NTUUC Type III: Generative Governance Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  20. NTUUC Going from Good to Transformational Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  21. NTUUC Board Team Assessment – Part 2 • Reconvene in your board teams • Assess your board’s performance on fiduciary, strategic, and generative performance (Low, Medium, High) • Refer to the fiduciary, strategic and generative considerations on the assessment worksheet. • Discuss how your board can improve on each of the three modes • Be prepared to discuss your assessment in the topic sessions through the day Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  22. NTUUC Modes of Governance LeadershipKey Messages Going from Good to Transformational

  23. NTUUC Visioning Nancy Foreman Horizon

  24. NTUUC Policy Making Anita Mills Oak Cliff

  25. NTUUC Stewardship Mary Noer Westside

  26. NTUUC Board Team Reflection and Action Planning • Take a few minutes personally to complete p.6 of the Board Assessment (Action Plan Worksheet) • Discuss Action Plans with Board Teams • Agree on three top priorities with your Board Team • Prepare to report out to the whole group Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  27. NTUUC Wrap-up discussion What are Key Take Ways? What the Key Messages for Your Boards?

  28. NTUUC Implications for the Board • Scale governance model to the size of the congregation • Consider annual board retreat • Acquire governance training periodically • Consider voices not at the table • Acquire cultural competency Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  29. NTUUC Implications for the Board • Acknowledge ownership of the governance process by the board • Acknowledge the power and authority granted to board via representative democracy • Be intentional in communications and disclosures to the membership Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  30. NTUUC Humanity of Governing • Requires the goodwill of the congregation • Inquiry must preempt judgment • Consultation underlies decision making • Listen respectfully • Governance is a spiritual practice • Governance is shared ministry Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

  31. NTUUC Toward Effectiveness Governance Originally presented at NTAUUS Boards Training July 14, 2012 Jim Key jckey@hargray.com 843.812.6647 Used with permission by Jim Key, from Toward Effective Governance, 7/14/12

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