Is your board using its most effective tool?

The organisations we govern have responsibilities that require round the clock decision making. Boards can only make decisions when they convene formally for board meetings.

Do we expect our staff to sit around waiting for us to turn up to make everyday kinds of decisions? Of course not, and so, we have to delegate authority to them to act on our behalf when the board is not in session.

When we delegate to our chief executive, do we give them a blank cheque to make whatever choices take their fancy? No, we don’t do that either! We give ‘policy’ guidance which fully realised is a very effective and necessary form of ‘remote control device’ but far too often neglected by boards of all kinds.