Susan Mogensen 
January 26, 2024Having policies written down can help board members avoid a lot of the tension that often arises when calling out actions or behaviours that are out of line. In this short video, I explain how clear policy shifts the conversation from personal to policy.
Key takeaways
- Clear policies make it easier to address problematic behaviour without creating personal tension.
- Using Policy Governance principles shifts the conversation from personal opinions to the board’s policies.
- Board policies represent the voice of the whole board, giving them more weight than any individual perspective.
- When something goes off-track, the question becomes whether behaviour needs to change, or the policy itself.
- Referring back to policy is not confrontational; it helps the board stay aligned with its own commitments.
Transcript
Read the full transcript
For 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.
Learn more
If you like the idea of having a system for guiding behaviours and outcomes, consider taking our online board education program, the Board EXCELerator.
