Board Governance & Effectiveness

When governance and leadership aren't working in alignment.

Effective governance depends on more than having the right policies and structures. It depends on clarity about authority, accountability, decision-making and the relationship between the Board and organizational leadership.

When those things become blurred, even capable Boards and leaders can find themselves working at cross purposes.

Does this sound familiar?

The Board is becoming increasingly involved in management.
Board members find themselves weighing in on operational decisions, while the CEO or ED has less room to lead. 2WA helps clarify the boundary between governance and management and establish a more effective working relationship.

The CEO and Board Chair are struggling to establish an effective working relationship.
Differences in expectations, communication or leadership style can create tension at the very top of the organization. 2WA can facilitate the conversations needed to surface the issues and establish greater clarity and alignment.

Board meetings are focused on operations rather than governance and strategic direction.
Important questions about organizational performance, risk, direction and the future can get lost in the detail of day-to-day business. 2WA helps Boards examine how they use their time and refocus their work at the appropriate level.

There is uncertainty about decision-making authority and accountability.
When it isn't clear who has authority to make particular decisions or how accountability flows between the Board and leadership; important issues can stall or become unnecessarily complicated. 2WA helps establish greater clarity around authority, accountability and decision-making.

A new CEO or Board Chair has changed the dynamics of the leadership relationship.
Leadership transitions can create an opportunity to establish new expectations and ways of working together. 2WA can help the Board and leadership navigate the transition and build a productive working relationship.

The organization has changed, but its governance model hasn't kept pace.
Growth, restructuring, new programs or changing circumstances can make an existing governance model less effective. 2WA can assess the current approach, explore alternatives and facilitate the development of a governance model that fits the organization today.

The Board wants to understand how effectively it is functioning.
Sometimes the Board simply needs an opportunity to step back and examine its own effectiveness. 2WA can facilitate a governance assessment and help identify opportunities to strengthen Board practices, relationships and decision-making.

How 2WA works

Effective governance starts with understanding how the Board and leadership are currently working together, not simply comparing practices against a checklist.

We'll help you explore governance structures, relationships, decision-making, communication and accountability. Depending on the situation, that may include a governance assessment, facilitated Board discussions, role and authority clarification, Board development or work with the Board Chair and CEO/ED.

The goal is a Board that understands its role, leadership that can lead, and a working relationship that allows both to focus on what they do best.