Our research with boards shows that many directors feel like they may be legally compliant, but are less than effective and often dysfunctional.
Regulatory compliance is the minimum requirement of lawful governance. Yet that is where most governance reviews stop.
For boards to function effectively they must be able to have open, respectful, and robust conversations around critical strategic issues. Effective dialogue is the means through which good governance occurs and this requires not only relational skill but the moral courage to dissent without being disagreeable or hypercritical.
“I get shut down for asking questions.”
“Disagreement is met with hostility.”
“One director has a clear conflict of interest but the Chair says it is fine so we just have to put up with it.”
“One director is acting on instructions of someone outside the board.”
“A few directors control everything and decisions are made outside the meeting. We just seem like a rubber stamp and have to go along with it.”
“A director is clearly bullying management staff and interfering. But no one wants to confront him.”
“The chair is out of their depth and being manipulated by others.”
“A couple of strong, argumentative personalities dominate discussion and decision making.”
“We are so slow to make a decision and when we do it is reactionary and too late.”
“As a group we have difficulty implementing decisions so we just revisit them.”
These social dysfunctions are usually not picked up in governance reviews because they are not elements of board functioning related to regulatory compliance, legal structure or policy.
In this context, leadership character is foundational for effective decision making and good governance. As a leadership trait, character is the one area of board functioning that cannot be delegated to others or assigned to an expert.
We call our approach INGENIUM* which is latin for “innate character”.
At The Colloquium Group we help boards and senior executive teams govern with quality and vitality.
Our governance reviews include the normal regulatory compliance, best practice, and structural dimensions of governance functioning.
However, we go further: drawing on centuries of relevant research from the classic virtues of Aristotle, Plato and the Wisdom literature we review the dynamics of board functioning in a safe, respectful way. This helps directors grow towards being heroic, courageous, mature, and insightful leaders.
We want to help your board and senior management be healthy, astute, visionary and wise. For more information contact The Colloquium Group.
We enjoy connecting with adventurous leaders who are ready to initiate real change. Contact us so we can learn more about ways to support you and your organisation.
We help organisations discover new life.
Our approach is clear: we research with curiosity, we capture adventurous vision, we design measurable strategy, we inspire refreshing cultural behaviours, we sharpen peak performance – for better business outcomes.
We ignite your courage, to create transformational change …because people matter.
“The team at The Colloquium Group helped us work through our various opposing views to come up with a unified and energising strategy. Previously, we were floundering. Now we can now see a fruitful future ahead.”
CEO, A welfare-sector not-for-profit.
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Stephen Smith
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Stephen Smith2022-11-17 12:49:212024-02-03 14:09:16Tool: Fostering a trusting team