This Board Member training course is designed for executive and non-executive board members. It is also useful for senior professionals who wish to become a board of director.
Course Contents
Module 1 - Your Impact as a Board Member
On Day One we find out how much you know about the duties of board directors
Key Topics
- An overview of a board member’s role, responsibilities, legal requirements and what is expected of you by the company
- Being a unitary board and demonstrating alignment
- Defining and communicating a compelling organizational vision and winning strategies
- Minimizing failure – reduce poor strategic choices and failure to execute the organization’s strategies and plans.
- Know the business and its key issues
- Know your board colleagues and who they are: their behaviour, style, agenda, interests
- Know yourself, be clear on your strength and weaknesses
Module 2 - First Steps
On Day Two we look at the purpose of a board and study what makes boards truly effective
Key Topics
- Carrying out the four key tasks of the board
- Assessing how effective your board is
- Know the Chair and other board members
- Understand the personal commitment and input to make at board meetings and the board meeting process in general
- Understanding the executive team and other key people (including non-executives) to minimize risk and conflict or misunderstanding
- Be ready for board meetings
Module 3 - Creating Value
On Day Three we reflect on your involvement and behaviour in board meetings.
Key Topics
- Understanding minutes, board papers and reports
- Preparing questions in advance
- The pros and cons of pre-meetings and sub-committees
- Your expectations based on the previous meeting (and recorded actions)
- Board recruitment and on-boarding
- Boardroom succession planning
Module 4 - Staying Relevant and Credible
On Day Four we look at the board’s work in communicating and engaging all stakeholders
Key Topics
- Communicating board decisions and monitoring/scrutinizing results
- Managing the fate of the business when, at the start of the financial year the baton is handed to management, first-line supervisors and the employees who report to them to start executing the plan
- Ensuring the business meets its revenue targets and manages its cost base.
- What makes a great board?
- What does it take for the board to stay relevant and credible?
- Engaging stakeholders and employees in board meetings/sub-committees
- The work of sub-committees
Module 5 - Other Ways to Add Value
On Day Five we look at how to craft interventions that improve board effectiveness and enhance decision making
Key Topics
- Board members as a mentor and coach
- Being an ambassador
- Being a critical friend – challenging and asking tough questions
- Managing diversity
- Holding the board accountable (minutes, conflict of interest, follow up, actions, missing data)
- Keeping out of the way and not interfering (if the executive team knows what they are doing)

