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Serving on a Board of Directors, have you experienced any of the following challenges?

	too much meeting time spent on operational details;
	low sense of purpose beyond "rubber-stamping" CEO's decisions;
	shortage of time to study meeting materials in advance;
	lack of clear distinction between strategy vs. tactics;
	disagreement with the CEO on how to accomplish the organization's goals;
	lack of information needed to make decisions;
	distrust between Directors who have different amounts of information and power;
	disagreements between Directors appearing to represent different agendas;
	an inclination to focus on the past rather than the future;
	lack of focus or shortage of time at board meeetings;
	very little connection with ownership or membership interests;
	no apparent system for governing the organization.

As CEO or staff member of a corporation (profit or non-profit), have you ever experienced any of the following difficulties?

	conflicting instructions from two or more Directors;
	lots of time and resources spent on obtaining board approval for projects and management initiatives;
	unwanted involvement from Board members in day-to-day issues;
	lack of general understanding and trust between the Board and CEO or staff;
	frustration with lack of resources allocated by the Board to achieve its objectives;
	criticism for failing to provide the right or desired amounts of information;
	heavy involvement by the Board in staff (non-CEO) hiring, firing and payment decisions;
	lack of clarity and consistency in the vision and overall direction desired by the Board.

If these challenges strike a familiar chord, you are not alone. While your organization is unique, thousands of boards and CEOs experience some or all of the frustrations listed above. Many organizations survive and function in spite of these problems, while some, like Enron and WorldCom, eventually collapse under the weight of their own bad governance practices.

Who Said Governance Was Easy?
Let's face it. Governance - the job of a board of directors - is simply not an easy thing to do, especially since it must be accomplished by a group of people working together. Well-intended, intelligent, patient and competent directors frequently become frustrated, disillusioned, bored and tired when they have no clear or shared job description, and when they must struggle through defective meeting processes.

Dysfunctional Governance Need Not Be the Norm
Good governance practices, however, can be learned and used with great success, which then filters through the organization or business served by the board, and into the community. Brown Dog Consulting was founded on the belief that dysfunctional governance need not be the norm. We have seen the positive benefits that training has given directors and staff alike: Policy Governance Benefits At A Glance. We know boards and their organizations can succeed at making a difference in this world. And we are driven to replace frustration and futility with enthusiasm and possibility.

Consider the World's Most Sophisticated Governance System
Our research and experience have shown that Policy Governance® is the most sophisticated and practical system of governance yet to be designed. Pioneered by Dr. John Carver, in use by boards around the world, and touted by Sir Adrian Cadbury as "near a universal theory of governance as we at present have," the Policy Governance system brings new and often startling clarity to board and CEO roles and relationships and the policy development process. Practical for boards of all types and sizes, its logical framework of principles can effectively help businesses and organizations to maximize progress, productivity and accountability, and to minimize risk, waste and exposure, all at the same time.

Make the Transition with Finesse
If you wish to begin earning the dividends of good governance, Brown Dog Consulting strongly recommends that you take the following steps:

Above All, Use a Qualified Consultant
When seeking a qualified Policy Governance consultant, ensure first that he/she attended Dr. John Carver's and Miriam Carver's Advanced Policy Governance Academy. Demonstration of a commitment to "High Quality Policy Governance Implementation" through membership in the International Policy Governance Association is important as well, along with strong group facilitation skills and a comprehensive, well-tested and fine-tuned training system. Brown Dog Consulting offers all of these benefits, and much more.

If you have any questions about our services or about board governance generally, call the Governance Hotline at 1-877-847-4552, toll-free in North America.