Unlocking Board Excellence: The Role of a Board Champion

Boards are critical to the success of an organization.  They hold the responsibility of ensuring the sustainability and shaping the future of the company beyond the tenure of any one employee.  On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton welcomes FCCS VP of Governance and Board Development Leslie Hilton for a discussion about the key role of the board in successful business and how the board champion can help lead this charge.  She details the role of a board champion, the effectiveness of their efforts, and who is the ideal candidate to become a board champion that can help enhance board trust and ensure future success. 

 

Episode Insights Include:

 

The roles of the board in conjunction with the management team 

• The board’s role is to represent the stakeholders in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the business.  

• The board is responsible for the future of the business beyond the currently engaged management team. 

• The board should be engaging with management regularly and in constructive ways. 

• The board brings relevant insight from personal experience to help management and the board make better decisions. 

• The board provides guidance to management about the long-term direction of the organization. 

 

The importance of the board champion 

• A board champion is a way to embody a concept for boards who are interested in and take responsibility for their own effectiveness.

• A board champion believes that the board plays a key role in the success and sustainability of the business beyond compliance. 

• The board champion could be a director, CEO or other leader who understands why the board needs to take accountability for their performance and effectiveness. 

• A board champion doesn’t fall into the trap of complacency when things are going well. 

• Identifying a board champion doesn’t need to be an assignment or designation, it is a reflection of someone’s commitment to the success of the board. 

 

The role of a board champion

• A board champion is committed to the continual growth and development of the board’s effectiveness.

• Board effectiveness is a journey, not a destination.

• Board champions understand that investment in the board is as important as investment in a management team.

• Any director can champion the board’s growth and ensure the board has the conditions necessary to do their work as effectively as possible. 

• The board champion embraces a growth mindset to encourage continual growth. 

 

Becoming a board champion

• Board champions can be self-appointed with the desire