17 Points for a Good Chairperson

Turn your Board into a highly effective asset that drives the future value of investment in your Company.

Each of the following points have an important role to play. The reason for each may not be obvious. However if the key stakeholders lack clarity or disagree, in time it will destroy the whole enterprise.

 
For an explanation of why each of the following is so important, contact Nick Winton.
 

    Why

  1. Purpose of your Board Meetings – Compliance, Strategy?
  2. Purpose of your business – Why does the business exist?

    3. Who

  3. Who should be on the Board?
  4. Who holds the vision?
  5. Who develops the strategy?

    6. What

  6. What structure is appropriate for your Board?
  7. What is the agreed risk profile for the business?
    (The Board should agree strategies appropriate to the agreed risk profile)
  8. What culture do you want for the business and is it actively managed?
    (This affects all aspects of the organisation from how customers perceive you to attracting and retaining staff.)
  9. What should appear on the agenda?
  10. What should not appear on the agenda?
  11. What are your strategies for building your business so it could be sold?
  12. What is the process for developing and approving strategies?
  13. What is the capability of the business to deliver on its strategies?
    (What investments are needed to develop the capabilities within the business?)
  14. What KPIs warn you in advance of potential problems?
  15. What succession plan is in place?
    (For the Board and for key staff) 

    16. How

  16. How do you ensure alignment between key stakeholders?
    (the equity-owners, investors, debt providers)
  17. How does the business acquire new skills?

A good Chair is like an orchestra conductor.

The skill is to bring all the resources together to create a masterpiece.