Questions

Board performance evaluation

• Does the board set standards for its own performance?
• Have the board’s expectations for individual director performance been documented and made available to all directors?
• Does it assess itself against those expectations at least annually?
• If not, has it at least articulated the reasons why not and considered those objectively?

Policy-based evaluation

• Does it translate the conclusions of its assessment into an explicit board performance development plan and professional development initiatives for individual directors?
• Does the board review the effectiveness of individual board members?
• If it does not, has the board considered why it would want to effectively deprive board members of the chance to understand how they might improve their contribution to the board?
• What leadership style is adopted by the chair?
• Does that get the best out of the board and the chief executive?
• Has the board explicitly set out its expectations of the chair?
• Does the board get a regular opportunity to provide feedback to the chair on his/her effectiveness?
• What would the board like to see more of from its chair?
• What does the board wish he/she would do differently?
• What actions does the board take that help or hinder the chair?
• Does the present composition of the board provide the range of competencies and experience needed to provide the standard of governance the organisation requires?