What is Board Governance Training? (Overview, Definition, and Examples)

The following topics are covered thoroughly in business schools and corporate board governance training programs. Learn from some of the best practices adopted by successful boards.  

1. Inclusion

Successful boards are inclusive, taking on members with a variety of lived experiences, educational experiences, and skills. As peers interact, board dynamics organically arise. Board dynamics are positive and successful when all members recognize one another’s contributions, learn from each other’s differences, and remain true to the mission.

Tools that keep peer interaction and board dynamics positive include board intelligence software that analyzes board member skills and experiences so that everyone’s talents are properly utilized.

2. Finances Within Nonprofit Boards

Whether you serve on the board for a credit union or just within a nonprofit’s fundraising committee, understanding finances proves crucial. Board governance training teaches the essentials of fundraising, nonprofit finances, and revenue generation.

3. Facilitated Goal-Setting

The president of the board’s main purpose is to facilitate the board, leading all members in the same direction while managing discussions. Robert’s Rules of Order is the parliamentary tool of choice for the vast majority of organizations. Board governance training ensures all members of the board have a basic understanding of Robert’s Rules of Order so board meetings move swiftly and efficiently.

4. Strategic Action Plans

Boards meet in order to push their mission forward; anything less is a waste of time and talent. By learning how to think and act strategically, board members become more effective and efficient. Plans change, but with strategic thinking, everyone involved will adapt as necessary without losing sight of the mission.

5. Corporate Responsibility

Corporate board governance training sessions focus on corporate responsibility. Consumers, clients, investors, and shareholders are becoming more concerned with the social, economic, and environmental impacts that are being made by an organization’s services and products. During corporate board training sessions, attendees learn how to ask the right questions to determine the impact their board decisions have on outside forces.

6. Risk, Liability, and Regulations

Depending upon your organization’s industry, different levels of risk, liability, and regulations must be recognized. A governance training program brings board members up to date on industry regulations to ensure your board remains compliant.

7. Engaged Decision-Making

A board can include the right people, support the most effective dynamics, and produce the most transparent of agendas, but all benefits are lost if board members aren’t properly engaged in the decision-making process. Engaged decision-making occurs when all board members feel that their vote matters. Business management software tools make it possible for board members to conduct surveys, measure engagement through analytics, and vote on issues via a unified platform.

8. Transparent Recordkeeping

New board members need the ability to quickly scan archived documents and assess the historical context of an issue when making critical decisions. Governance training teaches the ins and outs of effective meeting minutes and recordkeeping. 

9. Effective Communication

Board members must learn to work together to achieve goals. Board governance training teaches soft skills for how to effectively communicate and reach consensus.

10. Board Self-Evaluation

Finally, boards need to assess their effectiveness. A training program gives guidance on how to evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.