Effective Board Chairs Need Two Agendas

Effective Board Chairs need two agendas!

Let me explain.

The first agenda is the Board Meeting Agenda. The board of directors generally elects a colleague into the role of Board Chair believing that s/he can actually lead a board meeting and help the board accomplish its work outlined in the agenda. The Board Meeting Agenda, which is developed by the Board Chair with the CEO/Executive Director, helps directors understand the purpose of the board meeting as well as carry out governance responsibilities. The Board Chair will be seen as effective if the meetings start and end on time and the Board collectively accomplishes its work.

The second agenda is the Governance Agenda.  The purpose of the board of directors is to govern the organization. To do so, boards must follow their governance system.  The governance system is the Board’s operating system. It provides a governance structure, identifies key governance  processes and clarifies expected mission and performance outcomes.  The Board Chair, by virtue of his/her office, is responsible to oversee and follow the governance system as it is described in the organization’s bylaws, policies and protocols. The Governance Agenda, which is developed by the Board Chair with the CEO/Executive Director, identifies the work that needs to be accomplished by the Board during the year as directed by the governance system. Key governance documents such as Board policies and protocols, the organization’s strategic plan, the board approved budget and the annual operating plan  provide guidance in the development of the Governance Agenda. Occasionally when the  governance system needs to be reviewed and refreshed it will be on the Governance Agenda.   The Board Chair will be seen as effective if the  governance system operates well and the Governance Agenda enables the board t0 accomplish its work.

Effective Board Chairs lead the Board of Directors to accomplish the Board Meeting Agenda and the Governance Agenda!