Do you engage in serious discussions while one or more of the board members or senior executive staff sit hunched over, answering messages on their cell phones?
It is annoying. Some will say that they leave their phone on vibrate and will leave the meeting. Is that acceptable? If board work is considered vital, it is unacceptable. If board work is superficial, than it really doesn’t matter, does it?
How important is the work of your board? If it is important, then it is essential that all board members pay attention to all of the information related to each issue, process the opinions of the other board members, and evaluate all risks prior to making any decision.
Bad decisions cannot be blamed on the other board members. Boards speak with one voice. Each board member is accountable for the success or failure of the board. CEOs have a right to good advice. Stakeholders have a right to be represented.
It is easy for board members to recall when their peers were not attentive during discussions and phone files can be used as evidence during a court case. This lack of attention can be both embarrassing and affect the reputation of the board and the member.
I understand the need to multi-task; however, I am not sure it is possible to solve problems via emails and solve problems in the boardroom simultaneously. Therefore, before you begin to multi-task it is essential to ask yourself the following questions
- Am I on this board because I can make a significant contribution?
- Do I have the time to dedicate to the work of this board?
- What is the risk to the board and to me if I continue to use my blackberry during board meetings?
- Am I being fair to my fellow board members?
- Should I ask to be replaced on the board or can I shift some of my responsibilities to someone else while I am in board meetings in order to attend to board business?
- Am I willing to accept and support the decisions which are made when I am distracted, even when they prove to be poor decisions and the board is placed under fire?
- What should be the expectations of board members?
- How can the board arrange breaks to provide time for members to answer key messages without disrupting the work of the board?
- What do I need to do to respect the other board members’ time?
Boards need the attention and expertise of the board members. Thus is it vital for boards to discuss the impact of blackberry use during board meetings and answer the questions outlined above.
