This is the launch of a site whose subject is governance. It is applicable to governing boards of all kinds, whether a public board/council, a corporate or nonprofit board, an association board, a homeowners association board, etc. The site offers a comprehensive look at board responsibilities applicable to all types of boards, some of which boards may fail to consider in their hustle and bustle to get on with the business of the organization. These blog posts will highlight one or more points at a time, and are offered as food for thought, for boards that want to govern more effectively.
Think you have already met the learning objectives for governance101? No problem. You’ll find (or you may have already found) that mastering the basics can be a continuous, even lifelong, learning process, so don’t let the title hold you back. governance101 readily advances to governance201, governance301, etc. It’s a journey, not a destination. Whether you are in your first term or have done this thing for years, doing it right is well worth the effort you put into it.
Board service is competency-based, so you can advance as far and as fast as your knowledge and skills take you. You can fail to advance, staying at the same level as you entered throughout your tenure. You can, unfortunately, fall into a trap and regress to a lesser state if your initial optimism and desire to contribute lag while complacency, cynicism, and inconsistent or even harmful practices accumulate. The assumption of this website is that all boards can learn, and all can benefit from doing the work needed to advance in its practice of governance.
A friend once said that “Feedback is a gift!” – yours will be gratefully received.