Board Development Services

About the Service

Our Board Development Service is a research, consultancy & facilitation service whose aim is to promote best practice within Scottish Boardrooms.  The prime task of this service is to help Board directors clarify their individual roles and responsibilities and transform their collective performance within the Boardroom.  The service is independent, research based, confidential and delivered by a professional team with extensive Boardroom experience in the corporate, public and not-for-profit sectors.

We aim to help Boards realise its full potential because the performance of the Board is critical to corporate survival and growth.  The Board sets the conditions for organisational effectiveness.  Sir John Harvey-Jones said “the very essence of the Board’s role is to create tomorrow’s company out of today’s.  If the Board is not taking the company purposefully into the future, who is?”

Our service is designed to ensure that Boards of directors add value to the overall corporate effort and do not lapse into ineffectual talking shops.  We provide the whole Board with the help that will clarify its role and ensure that conflicts are resolved.  Too often Boards are dominated by one or two strong individuals; Boards need to be able to deal with diversity of opinions and to welcome disagreement and vigorous debate; this way the decisions the Board takes and its overall governance will be improved.

How the Service Works

Typically our service begins with a brief from the Chair or Chief Executive to provide an impartial outside viewpoint and to suggest ways to improve governance and Board processes.  In addition, specialist knowledge, research & facilitation skills can be applied in specific areas such as:

·         The design of an induction programme for newly appointed directors

·         Raising financial awareness of non-financial directors

·         Measuring and building collaborative relationships with stakeholders

·         Determining Board training and development needs.

·         Designing the Audit Committee function

·         Clarifying the role of the non-executive director

·         Establishing Board Evaluation procedures

·         Focusing on Strategic Leadership skills

·         Establishing remuneration policies

Our Board Development Service is always tailored to meet your needs, providing a package of activities that range from a one day workshop to a programme of continuous development.

Quote

“Staff at the IoD facilitated a one day workshop for my board which helped us develop our thinking on governance and strategy. I would recommend their services, their experience and their unique insight into the challenges facing directors." Chair, Renewable Energy Group

For more information on Board Development Services please contact director.scotland@iod.com