"Appraisals are useless if the feedback is not acted upon. Board improvement is a journey, but it should be a speedy one."
Robyn FitzRoy
IXION board governance
Services
In a challenging environment, boards need to be constantly effective to ensure organisational sustainability. There is no one solution for building an effective board, but help is at hand through our tools and services:
- Board performance appraisals and governance reviews
- Development of board goals
- Skills audits/board composition guidance
- CEO evaluations
- Succession planning
- Director induction programs
- In-board room workshops
- Strategy development
- Best practice board reporting
Evaluations
A good performance evaluation process will systematically assess boardroom expertise, identify where the board adds value and uncover any current and future skill gaps. Evaluations can only inspire confidence when they are customised, conducted skilfully and result in perceptive, actionable insights. The key to a sound board review is to ensure it is confidential, constructive and forward-looking. Plus we keep it relatively uncomplicated for participants. We emphasise strengths and contributions so that the board understands where it is most effective. When there are shortcomings we provide specific examples and keep comments constructive. Finally, we can help you realise the agreed recommendations.
10 tips for effective board evaluation
- Set clear objectives
- Commit to acting on the outputs
- Ensure buy-in from directors
- Start with the board and committees. Move to a 360 degree view of directors and the chair when directors are comfortable with the process
- Ensure confidentiality and anonymity in the reporting
- Keep the process clear and straightforward – directors are busy and the evaluation should be thought-provoking but not exhausting
- Interviews and/or a customised questionnaire should be used. Use both qualitative and quantitative questions – allow free form comments
- Make sure the board is not just talking to itself – involve some senior executives to give a different view
- Review the evaluation report and its recommendations at a board workshop
- Develop an implementation plan to gain real improvements from the review
Why Ixion board governance?
- A proven track record in governance and board performance evaluation
- Customised evaluations, not a ‘tick-the-box’ approach
- Experienced across both public and private sectors
- Clients believe the appraisal exercise was valuable and insightful
- Personalised, cost-effective service