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Getting new Directors to where they need to be - Developing induction programs that work

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The day a person joins the leadership team on a board of directors is the day they become liable for the decisions of the board. Preparing new board members for this responsibility, ensuring they are confident, enthusiastic and ready for the challenges that lay beyond the first board meeting, is the function of a well-designed board induction program.

“The Board Induction is a crucial governance process which routinely suffers from a breakdown in implementation.”

If you have a formal Board induction program, you understand how challenging it can be to get everyone on the same page and working together as a team. New Directors need a suitable amount of training before their first Board meeting as well as ongoing support during their first twelve months. In a recent industry survey we conducted we were swamped with stories of Directors who felt completely mystified by their inductions. Take this response:

"I had a couple of hours on a video-conference link which was very helpful for that role, but I was still totally unprepared for directors' responsibilities."

Traditional Board induction programs can also leave new Directors disengaged (even before they begin). This can be challenging especially if you want them to reach their potential quickly but don’t have the time to coach them personally through this transition.

"I had no idea what to expect and felt intimidated by a chairman who controlled meetings as well as access to information."

Imagine if...

  • All the Directors who undertook your Board induction were confident and prepared at their first meeting.

  • Each of your new Directors was asking the right questions, reading and participating in all Board papers and discussions.

  • All new Directors were enthusiastic about their tenure, and brought fresh insights to the table, even if they are volunteers with little to no formal experience.

There are four key elements that our research and many decades experience in developing Board Induction programs highlight. These Induction Program elements are:

  1. It is mandatory.

  2. The process and outcomes are formally monitored by the Governance committee with support from the Company Secretary.

  3. Mentors are assigned to each new Director, with a changeover of mentors after 6 months.

  4. It is at least 12 months in duration.

The following are the crucial components that high performing Directors have told us make a strategically useful Board Induction program. Each organization can be quite different in its structure and roles, so please be aware that any material mentioned in this article needs to be viewed through the filter of how your organization is structured.

Orientation

  1. Meeting with Board Chair (Governance processes, meeting structures, expectations, Induction process, Board manual, reviewing Board papers)

  2. Meeting with CEO, Executive and key staff (Overview of operation, key policies, tour, decision making processes of that department, how business cases are developed and presented to Board)

  3. Meeting with Chair of Board Committee (Terms of reference, overview and workplan, current issues)

Induction Manual sections:

  1. Vision, Strategic Priorities, History and Philosophy

  2. Constitution

  3. Board policies

  4. Directors’ Code of Conduct

  5. Contact details, CVs and skills register

  6. Organizational chart

  7. Strategic Plan

  8. Risk Management Plan

  9. Program descriptions

  10. Relevant press clippings

  11. Annual report

  12. Relevant brochures of programs

  13. Financial documents

  14. Annual Board Workplan

  15. Board training program

  16. Board minutes

  17. Board resolutions

  18. Board evaluation process

  19. Insurance policies

  20. List of key legislation

  21. Decision making skills and strategic thinking protocols

  22. Board mentoring protocols

  23. Induction key dates

  24. Glossary of terms

Please, comment on your experiences, write in to me, tell me what has worked, what hasn’t worked, what you have done to make your Board Induction process even more impactful. I may even write a follow up article outlining what you have told me, so others may benefit.