One of the many benefits of adopting Policy Governance® (otherwise known as “the Carver model”) is the fact that more is published about both Policy Governance theory and practice than about any other approach to board governance. Thanks to the work of Dr. John Carver, Miriam Carver, Caroline Oliver, and many other writers, a wide variety of Policy Governance publications are available.
This extensive body of knowledge means that any board of directors can study Policy Governance on its own, and use resources such as Reinventing Your Board, The Board Member’s Playbook, and Getting Started With Policy Governance, to create a board policy manual and to implement the system. Brown Dog Consulting’s YouTube channel also offers tips and advice, plus the Board Leadership publication features many in-depth articles on multiple specific topics.
That said, when a board starts to explore the adoption of Policy Governance, it should consider these three advantages to using the services of a trained, skilled and experienced Policy Governance consultant.
An Independent/Outside Perspective: Boards, CEOs and staff members can benefit from the services of a consultant who is not attached to any particular set of interests inside the organization. A qualified Policy Governance consultant does not “side” with the board or with the CEO or staff, but rather uses his/her guidance and coaching skills to show what the principles of Policy Governance are, and to have clients see the extent to which they are using these principles for the benefit of the organization’s moral/legal owners.
Fun, Engaging Learning Process: It’s not clear how this rumor got started, but some say that “governance” is considered to be a “dry topic.” All the more reason, then, to find a Policy Governance consultant who knows how to bring life, stories, and humor to this topic, and who can design workshops and learning experiences that all workshop participants will value and remember.
Speed and Efficiency: A qualified and experienced Policy Governance consultant is also able to help boards of directors, CEOs, staff and key stakeholders to grasp the principles quickly, to troubleshoot challenges as soon as they arise, and to help clients customize their use of this system to fit their own values, style, and culture. Experienced Policy Governance consultants have worked with many different types of boards, organizations, and people, and — when combined with strong facilitation skills — are well-equipped to inspire clients to attain the benefits of Policy Governance as quickly as possible.
Policy Governance Consulting Qualifications
For top quality assistance, ensure that any prospective Policy Governance consultant meets these three criteria:
1. Attendance at the Policy Governance® Academy(SM), a week-long training session with Dr. John Carver and Miriam Carver, and/or achievement of the Policy Governance® Professional (PGP) designation offered through the International Policy Governance Association;
2. Membership in the International Policy Governance® Association (IPGA);
3. Group facilitation and/or adult education skills.
See also: Policy Governance Workshops and Infographic: The Policy Governance Journey