Building Trust in the Boardroom
the role of the CEO
YH CEO Forum
18 May 2017
Leading boards drive both
conformance and performance
Conformance
• Ensure compliance with law
• Ensure compliance with
governing documents
• Maintain proper oversight
of performance & finances
• Establish & monitor policies
• Ensure accountability
• Manage risk
Performance
• Set & maintain mission,
vision & values
• Develop strategy & ensure
resources
• Respect the role of
staff/volunteers
• Maintain effective board
performance
• Promote the organisation
• Select & support the CEO
What is ‘board effectiveness’?
•
•
•
•
•
The right people in the boardroom
Doing the right thing
Having the right conversations
Asking the right questions
Making the right decisions
Board development
•
•
•
•
•
•
Recruit
Skills audit
Review
Develop
Induct
…….in a continuous circle….
Building trust
• What are the ways of behaving that have built
out trusting relationships?
• What can the CEO do to support trust building
in the boardroom?
• - Processes
• - Behaviours
• - Relationships
• What stops this from happening?
• What can we do differently to make it
happen?
•
•
•
•
•
Create short term wins
Refresh values
Update roles and JDs
Focus – appropriate and timed agenda
Recognise and value difference and
contributions
• Celebrate success
The CEO role in this…..
• Encourage & support board development
• Provide the board with useful learning materials
through the Chair
• Keep the board fully informed about
performance issues and risks
• Ensure relationships are healthy
• Learn, learn, learn
• Bring in external support early when its needed
Effective boards have……..
•
•
•
•
•
•
Good team working
High quality board meetings
The right skills, knowledge, experience
A focus on strategy rather than operations
Openness and trust
A diverse group of people & succession plans
Open communication leading to
trusting relationships
• Open communication demonstrating mutual
respect
• Constructive tone of independent, supportive
challenge
• Forward looking, courageous, willing to take
risks
• Willingness to give each-other feedback
= honesty and trust
“In every job that must be done
there is an element of fun –
You find the fun, and SNAP
the job is gone”