Susan Mogensen 
January 26, 2024For most of us, calling people out can be a little awkward, and something we’d really rather not do. Especially when those people are our colleagues, friends, or our boss.
Imagine, for example, you’re a CEO, and you witness one or more board members saying or doing something that is clearly wrong or at odds with board policy.
If you don’t have a good governance system in place, you’re in an awkward position. Do you say something, and risk being judged or even punished for calling out the board member? Or do you avoid saying anything and allow the behaviour to continue?
A huge advantage of Policy Governance is any time a course correction is needed, you can remain very matter-of-fact and avoid personal attacks. All you do is refer to the relevant board policy, and ask if behaviours need to change or if the policy itself needs to be amended or deleted.
Remember, policies express the values of the board, and can be changed at any time. They carry far more weight than just one person’s opinion, and the board as a whole is responsible for following its own rules. Whether you’re a CEO or a board member – or even an owner – drawing the board’s attention to the policies it has in place is not controversial; it’s doing everyone a favour.
For more information on how Policy Governance can transform your board, visit browndogconsulting.com and set up a call.
Learn more about Policy Governance by taking our online board education program, the Board EXCELerator.
