Governance topics for high performing boards

"Your first and foremost job as a leader is to take charge of your own energy and then help to orchestrate the energy of those around you." Peter Drucker

Examples of topics covered in governance workshops and seminars

Miriam O’Brien offers presentations and workshop sessions on governance for Boards and Chief Executive Officers. The program is developed in consultation with the Board (usually via the Chair, governance committee or Chief Executive Officer). The program normally comprises short PowerPoint presentations allowing for discussion during and following each segment. In longer sessions we may include interactive exercises such as case studies, hypotheticals, role playing or other working sessions using examples relevant to your board.

Below are examples of popular governance topics that we deliver on request.  We are happy to develop a program based on these or other topics of interest to your board. (See also our program for planning sessions.)

What makes good governance?

  • Principles of good governance
  • Leadership and stewardship
  • A framework for good governance
  • Introduction to Carver-style governance

Board role and responsibilities

  • The Board as a whole
  • The Board Chairperson
  • Board members
  • Board committees
  • Ethics, code of conduct, conflict of interest
  • Independent directors

The Board and the Chief Executive

  • Understanding the role of the Board and the role of the CEO
  • Board-CEO relationship and CEO delegations

Leadership

  • Creating the future: your vision
  • Setting strategic direction
  • How to decide results – what difference do you want to make in the world and in the lives of the people you assist?
  • Agreeing the results the organisation is to work towards
  • The Board’s role in the planning process

Stewardship

  • Accountabilities of the Board to owners
  • Board-stakeholder relations
  • Risk management: a governance risk framework
  • Monitoring the performance of the Board
  • Monitoring organisational performance
  • Effective but streamlined reporting for responsible governance

Other topics

  • Important relationships – with owners, CEO, staff, clients, funding bodies, other stakeholders and the community.
  • Alliances and partnerships - criteria for deciding about cooperation, collaboration or merger.
  • Change - whether foisted on you (eg by funding bodies) or whether you seek it out.
  • High achieving boards - time management and other tips to keep the board focused, productive and efficient.
  • The right talent- tips for recruiting and inducting Board members so that the board has the necessary mix of skills and experience
  • Board members as volunteers.

 

Tailored to your needs

Working sessions and presentations are designed to suit the client and the time available. Sessions can be arranged for a single organisation or for multiple organisations that may have interests in common or are from a particular region. We like to work with Boards and committees in rural and more remote areas, which often miss out on opportunities that people in larger cities and regional centres take for granted.

Click here to see typical session formats.

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