Board Self-Assessment is an essential element of a well-established board governance process. The aim is to make sure that your board members understand their duties and how they can most effectively contribute to the success of your non-profit organization. This includes identifying areas of improvement and strengths. It is also crucial to ensure that the board members are satisfied with their work and experience as board members.
Using an online Board Self-Assessment tool is one of the most common and effective methods of conducting an assessment of the board. This helps keep the process focused and less stressful for your board members.
Once you have a board self-assessment tool and have clearly defined the goals of the assessment to help determine which methods will be used. Consider the number of questions you want to ask as well as the length of your assessment, and available resources when selecting the best method to collect information. You can employ interviews, surveys or facilitated discussion for your assessment.
Analyze and interpret the collected data to derive meaningful insights. This requires comparing quantitative data to identify patterns and trends in the results, as well as considering qualitative feedback.
Once the data is analyzed It is essential to facilitate thoughtful discussion sessions with your board. During these discussions, your board will discuss the findings of the self-assessment of the board and collaborate on how to improve the board’s governance and performance. In these discussions, make sure that the board members feel confident in sharing their honest and open feedback. It is crucial that discussions are conducted with complete confidentiality, so that no board member can be identified by the content of the comments.
