Reasons Board Chairs Lose Control of Meetings
Board chairpersons lose control over board meetings when they
- ignore board politics
- are unaware of importance of individual board member’s agendas
- are unprepared for the meeting
- do not follow the policies and protocols of the board
- do not respect the mores of the organization
- focus on their own likes and dislikes, ignoring items relevant to constituents
- are seen to be too buddy-buddy with the CEO
- are promoting their own careers and advancement in the wider community
- are in the role for the perks
- lose sight of the mandate of the entity
- are not serious about the work of the board
- do not understand the difference between management and governance.
How to Gain Control in Meetings
All of these are avoided when chairpersons are provided
- a comprehensive orientation about the organization
- an opportunity to read the policies and ask questions
- with a briefing about the current issues facing the board
- with an overview of risks to the board
- with knowledge about the role of the CEO and keeps it separate from the role of the chair
- with an overview of the political agendas of each board member and provides time for open discussion in the appropriate forum, and
- with briefing notes about each of the issues which will arise at the meeting.
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