The role of a board is to provide direction and oversight to the executive management team, and to ensure that company policies are adhered to and that all fiduciary responsibilities are met. While some boards entrust too much authority to their executive leadership, most do not take their responsibilities to the fullest extent. Sadly, the media abounds with stories of business failures caused by poor or incompetent management teams.
One of the most effective ways to avoid problems is to ensure your board has a broad range of skills and perspectives and is able to work well as a unit. This is why you should establish certain principles of management for your board which include welcoming diversity into your board and taking on leadership roles, encouraging a flexible structure (e.g. setting up committees to deal with new threats) and ensuring www.contactboardroom.com/corporate-governance-what-is-it ongoing evaluation of both the board as a whole and individual members.
Another important principle of management for boards is to avoid getting too involved in operational issues, especially when it comes to the day-today operations of your company. This is because a major part of the work of a board is to determine the long-term direction for your business and how it will fit to the larger society.
Although it might sound like a no-brainer, a lot of companies struggle with this concept. For example certain board members begin meeting with management directly without the CEO’s knowledge, or take a leap of faith in an effort to be helpful. This can put the CEO in a bind. The CEO must collaborate with the chairman of the board and other directors in order to resolve the issue and regain trust.