Enhancing Board Governance and Effectiveness

Introduction:

This particular training—Board and Governance Effectiveness—is targeted to executives, board members, and senior managers who want to shape matters of strategic direction and governance. These individuals include Chief Executives (CEOs), Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), Chief Operating Officers (COOs), directors, chairpersons, corporate secretaries, and other governance professionals from tenable institutions or organizations, which may include private company governance structures, public company governance, non-profit, and governmental organizations. These individuals seek to grow their understanding of governance, increase efficacy in decision-making at the board level, and maintain the best standards. The focus of this program is on leadership enhancement, ensuring responsibility and building organizational success through proper administration practices, providing relevant tools and resources to effectively deal with intricate governance issues and make appropriate decisions.

Objectives:

By the end of this Board and Governance Effectiveness course, participants will be able to:

• Develop and delineate the board proactively while reinforcing company growth over time.
• Align board objectives with shareholder and significant stakeholder interests.
• Comprehend compliance, roles and responsibilities, and best practices in board governance.
• Apply strategies to enhance board governance and leadership competence.
• Integrate risk management into decision-making at the board level.
• Improve boardroom competence, decision-making, and governance standards.
• Stay updated on current corporate governance practices and their impact.
• Harmonize the board’s strategic intentions with organizational goals and stakeholder expectations.
• Foster accountability and transparency in all aspects of board work and governance.
• Cultivate leadership qualities that enhance policies and ensure organizational success.

Training Methodology:

• In-class sessions
• Case discussions
• Sometric exercises
• Situation plays
• Peer learning
• Governance process simulations
• Expert-led lectures

Course Outline:

Unit 1: Role Clarification and Differentiation

• Board Activities vs. Management Activities:
  • Understand expectations for board members versus company management.
  • Differentiate between strategic/supervisory board functions and day-to-day management activities.
• Rationale under Board Management Collaboration Persistence:
  • Highlight the difference between supervisory and management functions in governance.
  • Emphasize collaboration and communication between boards and management.

Unit 2: Directors Duties and Legal Compliance

• Role of a Director:
  • Define what it means to be a director, including fiduciary duties like duty of care and loyalty.
• Laws and Governance Compliance:
  • Conduct corporate law compliance reviews with a focus on Corporate Governance Code application at the board level.
  • Ensure legal compliance to strengthen corporate governance and reduce risks.

Unit 3: Risk Management and Governance Fundamentals

• Risk Management:
  • Identify strategic, financial, operational, and compliance risks within the organization.
  • Develop a practical approach to risk identification, assessment, and management.
• Establishing Effective Governance Principles:
  • Examine governance principles such as transparency, accountability, equity, and responsibility.
  • Enhance efficiency and reputation using sound governance practices.

Unit 4: The Scope of the Subcommittee and the Ideal Board

• Subcommittee Role:
  • Understand the composition, purpose, and areas of activity for subcommittees (audit, risk, investment).
• Characteristics of Effective Boards:
  • Examine factors such as experience, direction, discipline, diversity, independence that enhance board productivity.
  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement and education in the boardroom.

Unit 5: Problem Solving, Best Practices, and Strategy Building

• Typical Board Problems:
  • Identify and address common board issues like conflicts of interest and communication barriers.
  • Foster discussions and problem-solving strategies.
• Best Governance Practices:
  • Implement effective techniques for managing board meetings and governance activities.
  • Enhance meeting order and information organization to boost board functionality.
• Behavioral Techniques in Difficult Situations:
  • Develop approaches for communication, conflict resolution, and decision-making in challenging boardroom situations.
  • Improve emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills for consensus building.
• Strategy Building:
  • Align board strategies with organizational goals and stakeholder interests.
  • Undertake strategic planning and performance measurement for sustained growth and value creation.
• Board Team Building Exercises:
  • Engage in exercises to improve collaboration and communication among board members.
  • Build trust, respect, and cohesion to foster an effective boardroom culture.