The expertise gained by having a board of directors can offer critical strategic advantages for companies, but many avoid putting one together because of the myths surrounding them. Here are some of the common myths about boards and why you should ignore them.
Control would be lost
Directors serve at the pleasure of shareholders. If it seems as though one or more board members are trying to exert too much control, it takes only a meeting of the shareholders to replace the dominating board members.
Too much bureaucracy
A board is not there to manage the company; it’s there to deal with the long-range outlook and provide strategic direction for the organization. If the board’s role is understood, board members won’t interfere in operations or create bureaucracy.
I can’t get good directors
Aim high and put forth the same effort to recruit directors as you would to recruit employees. Understand what roles need to be filled within your board and make sure that the directors you bring on have the necessary knowledge and experience to achieve your strategic goals.
Boards are too expensive
The advice and expertise of a solid board of directors is invaluable. If you’ve recruited good directors, the board will more than pay for itself.
Boards waste time
The role of the board is not to manage your company day-to-day. If the directors seem to be meeting too often or addressing operational instead of strategic matters, it’s time to refresh everyone on the roles of governance vs. management.
Directors will sell for us
If you’ve aimed high and recruited the proper directors for your board, it’s true they may open doors. However, it is not the board’s job to be your sales force.
I shouldn’t because my advisors don’t recommend it
It is one of the board’s duties to help you assess your advisors. If your advisors discourage you from adding a board, you may want to ask yourself what their motives are for disregarding a best practice.
One case where a board of directors may not be necessary is the period before a business reaches about 40 to 80 employees. During these early phases, companies are often moving so rapidly that they won’t have time to listen to a board. A good way to test the waters in this scenario is to try an advisory board to see if the organization benefits from it.
Questions?
For more information on creating a board, contact Marjorie Engle using the information below.
Senior Vice President
Org. Development & Family Business Services
Marjorie Engle guides clients and their companies through executive coaching, transition and succession planning, organizational analysis, conflict management, and corporate strategy development. A specialist in assessing and developing family councils, advisory boards and boards of directors, she has extensive experience with family-owned, closely held, and public companies across many industries, as well as with not-for-profit organizations.
Marjorie holds a certificate in Family Business Advising with Fellow Status from The Family Firm Institute and is a certified coach with Family Business Partners. She is also a certified Change Leader.
Vice President
Org. Development & Family Business Services
Daniel White assists organizations with their organizational development needs, including strategic and operational planning, leadership development, succession and exit planning, and family business advising. He has worked with a wide range of industries, including construction, healthcare, manufacturing, banking, not-for-profits, and government organizations. He has also worked internationally as an organizational development consultant, serving organizations in Bolivia, Guatemala and Ghana. Prior to advising organizations, he worked in not-for-profit leadership and operations, directing projects with clients such as the US Department of State and the United Nations Population Fund.
Daniel serves as associate director of the Kansas Family Business Forum, hosted by Wichita State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship. He holds a certificate in Family Business Advising from The Family Firm Institute. Daniel also earned his Certified Exit Planner designation from BEI. This designation demonstrates he is qualified to provide comprehensive, professionally executed exit planning services. He has been published in Fast Company and several academic journals, and he has presented at a number of national conferences.