Self-Assessment of Board Members is an essential component of a well-established board governance process. It’s designed to help your board members to understand their duties and how they can contribute to the success of your non-profit organization. This includes identifying areas of improvement and strengths. It is also essential to verify that your board members are content with their positions and experiences in the board.
Utilizing an online Board Self-Assessment tool is one of the most common and effective ways to perform an assessment of your board. This allows the process to be more precise and less a burden on the board members, especially when as compared to a lengthy written evaluation.
If you’re using a self-assessment board tool, establish the objectives to help you determine the methods that will be employed. Think about the number of questions you would like to ask in your assessment, and accessibility of resources when selecting the best method to collect information. You may choose to employ interviews, surveys or facilitated discussions for your assessment.
Analyze and interpret the collected data to draw meaningful conclusions. This involves the comparison of quantitative data to detect patterns and trends, as also considering qualitative feedback.
After the data has been analysed, it is crucial to conduct thoughtful discussion sessions with your board. During these sessions, your board will discuss the results from the self-assessment process and collaborate on how to improve the governance and performance. During these sessions, ensure that all board members feel at ease providing honest and candid feedback. Additionally, it is essential that all conversations are held in strict secrecy so that no board member can be identified or harmed through their comments.