Unlike a CEO who handles the day-today tasks of an company, a board focuses on the bigger picture Aprio Board Portal and is accountable for making high-level decisions. The board is responsible for the appointment and, if necessary, replacing the chief executive officer and fulfilling the fiduciary duties of a company’s shareholders and other stakeholders.
Thus a highly-performing and engaged board is one that approaches staff as a team, not as subordinates. Respectful and thoughtful members of the board listen to their staff and treat them with respect even if they don’t agree with the employee’s point of view. No matter the size of an organization, board members are expected to act in matters that affect the organization’s mission.
The key to effective governance of the board is clear minutes of meetings. They can help members who are not present understand the proceedings of a meeting, and they can help clarify any metrics or strategies that are required to be monitored. Boards that are able to create clear, concise minutes will have a far better chance of navigating legal issues.
To learn more about how to write effective board meeting minutes, check out this blog post by SSIR. This blog is an invaluable source for anyone interested in governance for boards, with a particular focus on non-profit boards.