Boards: How to Improve Your Board’s Effectiveness [VIDEO]

A well-functioning team or crew is a thing of beauty to watch. Every athlete understands his or her role and works together to make the team more effective.

It is also a thing of beauty when an organization's board of directors is healthy and effective. Sadly, we often see boards that are not. Here are five things you can do to increase the effectiveness of your board of directors.

1. Right-size the Board

It is hard to have a really large board that is cohesive, efficient, and impactful. Typically, 6 to 12 directors is about the right size, although there could be specific instances where even fewer is better or a few more could work.

2. Match Board Composition to Needs of the Organization

You need to understand the role of the board at this stage in the life cycle of the organization. For example, is this a startup organization or mature organization? There are various types of board functions and structures, and over time, and in specific circumstances, these need to change.

3. Invest in Board Training

Make sure that everyone on the board understands their role and their expectations, and particularly that they understand their role versus that of the executive leadership of the organization.

4. Develop a Strategic Plan and Metrics

How will you provide good governance to the organization without a clear, actionable strategic plan and solid metrics with which to hold the organization accountable?

5. Discuss Board Performance & Health

This may seem obvious, but it's surprising how many boards never stop and ask, “How is our board performing, and are we healthy as a board?” Also, a director's board term should not be renewed without at least a discussion of that individual's performance.

Healthy, effective boards attract good board members and help their organizations to thrive and grow. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. If you would like help assessing your board or improving your board’s effectiveness, we would love to help!

Gray Wirth has served more than 30 years as a leader in corporate, nonprofit, small business, and military contexts. He has successfully led organizations ranging from 100 to 3,100 employees. Gray has lived and worked in five different countries, been a CEO, and accumulated more than 25 years of experience on nonprofit and for-profit boards. He brings experience in executive coaching, strategic planning, and advising boards of directors and business owners. As a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®), Gray helps business owners plan in advance for future transitions to ensure that their business, personal, and financial objectives will be achieved. Gray is a U.S. Army veteran and holds a B.S. from Cornell University, an M.B.A. from Harvard University, and an M.A.R. from Westminster Theological Seminary.