Trusteeship - January/February 2023 - 49

Findings &
Implementation
Recommendations
■
■
Analysis
Report(s)
●
■
Executive Summary
● Detailed (data, etc.)
Board Presentation and
Discussion
■ Action Items
■ Time Line
■
Delegation
■ Follow Up
assessment tools to more comprehensive
facilitator-led processes that include
written surveys, interviews, and
in-person facilitated retreats are available
through AGB. Components of these
assessments range from self-service online
questionnaires to AGB's facilitated board
retreats complete with comprehensive and
detailed analysis and recommendations
to the board. For more information visit:
https://agb.org/agb-consulting/boardassessment/
strives
throughout to help the board
realize its most important goals for the
assessment.
Additional resources used during the
board assessment include recent accreditation
reports, meeting agendas and minutes,
charters, annual reports, recent campaign
materials, governing documents like bylaws
and other legal documents, institutional
trend data and dashboards, and strategic
plans. In addition, interviews with people
who have close ties to the board-for
example, the chief financial officer, general
counsel, other executive leaders, and
the board professional-offer additional
perspectives and valuable points of view.
Many boards also include influential
emeriti members who may recently have
completed their terms yet have invaluable
knowledge and wisdom to share.
The final phases of a comprehensive
assessment are when the real work begins.
Typically, an executive summary and
detailed report are generated and shared
with the board chair, chief executive officer,
and task force/committee members. The
full board then receives the final results
during its retreat, where the transition from
" findings and recommendations " to " implementation
and action " occurs. The assessment
results become teaching tools and
suggest new ways of operating, including
the development of appropriate standards,
AGB.ORG
practices, and benchmarks.
Typically, no more than three or four
action items should emerge as important to
address over the course of the next three to
five years. The task force or committee is
responsible for bringing structure and clarity
to the outcomes, so the board continues
to address the key findings and true change
occurs. Most boards that participate in an
assessment process ensure that progress
updates on the findings and action plan
remain on the board's standing agenda for
the foreseeable future.
For the University of Toledo Foundation,
choosing AGB to lead their assessment
offered more than they expected.
" Use an AGB consultant to facilitate the
process. You will get so much more out
of the process if it is facilitated by an AGB
consultant than if the assessment is staffled.
I was surprised by the amount of work
that went into the assessment, mostly done
by the consultant, prior to actually having
our day-long retreat. It was well worth the
investment. I can say that the experience
exceeded both my expectations and the
expectations of our trustees, " said President
Lee. The foundation soon will begin a strategic
plan in partnership with AGB.
Several board assessment options
(Basic, Classic, Premium) tailored to the
needs of available resources ranging from
complimentary member-exclusive selfLynnette
M. Heard is an AGB senior
fellow and senior consultant in the
areas of board assessments, board
and leadership development, board
selection and composition strategies,
diversity/equity/inclusion strategies, bylaws review,
parliamentary procedure, and public and media
relations. In addition, she leads the Board
Professionals Certificate Program Task Force and
serves as the ambassador for AGB's Council of
Board Professionals.
Takeaways
■ Assessments can help boards,
committees, and members
examine the leadership pipeline for
succession planning by identifying
the talents, skills, and backgrounds
needed in its composition for
consequential governance.
■ Board assessments are essential
to effective governance and
exemplary trusteeship. They help
boards focus on what matters
most.
■ By establishing a thorough
assessment process and clear
action plans to address the results,
boards hold themselves and their
chief executives accountable,
demonstrate commitment to serve
their foundations, and promote
stronger board and executive
performance.
JAN.FEB.2023 TRUSTEESHIP 49
https://agb.org/agb-consulting/board-assessment/ https://agb.org/agb-consulting/board-assessment/ http://www.AGB.ORG
Trusteeship - January/February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Trusteeship - January/February 2023
