Your board of directors guides your business and makes key decisions on its behalf. The better equipped they are, the better those decisions will be.
Here are five practical ways to help your board work more effectively.
- Provide proper training
Regulations change. Best practices evolve. And many directors join boards without formal governance training in the first place.
Regular training keeps your board sharp and up to date. It doesn’t need to be expensive, but it does make a real difference. Even experienced directors benefit from refreshers on their duties and responsibilities.
The governance360 academy offers targeted modules on topics like directors’ duties, helping boards stay current without lengthy courses.
- Review your board’s skills
Not all directors arrive with the same capabilities. Someone might be brilliant in their field but lack specific governance skills.
Take stock of where your board stands:
- Who fully understands their legal duties and liabilities?
- Who needs more experience in certain areas?
- Who’s performing well, and who’s struggling?
- Has anyone been on the board too long without adding fresh perspective?
A simple skills review helps you spot gaps and plan accordingly. The governance360 platform includes tools to track skills and identify development needs across your board.
- Learn from other boards
It’s hard to judge your own board objectively when you’re in the thick of it.
Speaking with directors from other organisations can open your eyes. What challenges have they faced? What would they do differently? You’ll often find common themes that apply to your situation.
Consider finding a non-executive director or mentor who can offer ongoing advice. Over time, they’ll understand your business well enough to give tailored guidance.
- Evaluate your chair
Your chair sets the tone for the entire board. But sometimes chairs are chosen out of convenience rather than capability.
Take an honest look at how your chair is performing:
- Do they have the right skills for the role, or do they need support?
- Are they getting regular feedback on what’s working and what isn’t?
- Would an independent review help identify blind spots?
A 360-degree review—gathering views from the whole board—can highlight areas for improvement. If you don’t have a non-exec to facilitate this, an external expert can provide valuable perspective.
- Create an induction process
You wouldn’t throw a new employee in at the deep end without an induction. Why do it with board members?
A proper welcome helps new directors:
- Understand your company’s operations, history and goals
- Meet key people in the organisation
- Get up to speed quickly so they can contribute meaningfully from the start
- Spot any gaps in their knowledge early on
It also makes your organisation look professional and well-organised. The governance360 platform can help you build consistent induction materials and track completion.
The bottom line
Building board capability isn’t a one-off task. Regular training, honest evaluation and proper support help directors make better decisions for your business.
Small improvements in how your board works can lead to significantly better outcomes over time.