Even experienced and competent directors benefit from induction
All new board members should receive a formal induction into the board’s governance role and the organisation’s work as a whole. This is simply to ensure new members come up to speed and can contribute to the board’s work as soon as possible.
Even experienced directors can find joining a new board challenging. No two boards are the same and the practices of one board cannot automatically be held to be true for another. Every board has its own history, culture, traditions and dynamics.
A single new board member can change the dynamic of the board, often making it necessary to actively rebuild the team spirit. It is only once people are comfortable with each other and have developed shared expectations on how the board will do its job that they will function well as a team. Almost all successful boards balance work and play to create a positive team.
Induction should begin before appointment, i.e. at the point when the new director accepts nomination or is first asked to accept appointment.
No director should accept a board position without prior knowledge of the organisation, the board, its members and its issues.
These insights should be gathered via the new director’s due diligence process.
A sample due diligence checklist is included in the online resources.