A board's self-assessment is useful, but members often go easy on each other. We run an independent evaluation that listens to each member separately and gives the board a frank view of how it performs and what could improve.
The rules or your own policy call for an annual evaluation, or one every few years.
And nobody says so openly in the meeting.
New members or a new chair, and you want to know what the board needs.
You need an objective basis for nomination and renewal decisions.
How effective the meetings are, the quality of papers, the relationship with management, and follow-up.
Does each committee really deliver on its mandate?
Skills, participation and independence, as your policy defines them.
How sessions are led and how information flows.
Clear findings with evidence, shared among members at the level of confidentiality you agree.
What it does well and what needs improving.
Three to five realistic priorities rather than a long list nobody acts on.
We present the findings in person and answer questions.
We set what the evaluation covers, who takes part, and how confidentiality is kept.
Short questionnaires and one-to-one interviews, plus a review of minutes and papers.
We compare what people say with what the documents show and pick out recurring patterns.
We present to the board and check back later on what has changed.