Failure by directors to disclose conflicts of interest. And when appropriate disclosure has been made, failure to deal with it. Conflict of interest is a great sin indeed. And in Africa, the leading cause of poor road works, incomplete projects, substandard projects. Procurement fraud, especially no value for money delivery. Disclosure nowadays is no longer an adequate safeguard to conflict of interest. Just resign from the role. Have you ever served on a board where some members were conflicted? How did you address the issue even after disclosure? In many cases, the disclosure works like marketing “this is my thing,…
What is the least common method to appoint directors to the board?
A reader asked me this question. First, I explore who chooses the board of Directors. Then common methods they use to chose. And finally, answer your question-the least common method used to appoint board members. I hope you did not ask this question to hide so that no one chooses you! I will help you. Just do not be an outlier in your profession. Be a mediocre. Let no one read about you or quote you. Be a mediocre in your profession so that you are hidden from the public eye. Appointment of directors depends on the type of the…
Why NGOs must diversify to unrestricted funding?
Restricted funds are ones that donors provide for defined programs and specific activities with clear performance indicators. The organization is not required to ‘vire’ or relocate to any other activities other than the ones the donors specified. It this inability to freely apply the funds to new and emerging priorities that make reliance on donor funds difficult. Imagine a not for profit organization like the Red Cross which provides disaster response and crisis management engagements, it must first revert to the donor if it needed to redeploy any available funds to other most pressing needs. By the time such approval…
What makes a good board chairperson, part 3
A good board chair guides the board to provide clear templates and tools to facilitate consistent reporting. This saves the board’s time and facilitates executive training. You want board reports and board packs that are consistent and easy to read. Think of this as international financial reporting standards that guide the preparation and presentation of financial statements. You want the executive to present quality board packs that are easy to read and analyze. The sample boardroom tools and templates are. Boardroom tools and templates The four key tools of an effective board are (a) a clear board agenda, as explained…
What makes a good board chairperson, part 2
A good chair makes sure the board has a charter that clearly defines the practices of the board. It is the primary responsibility of the Chair to enforce the defined board practices for effective governance. The conduct of board members at board meetings The conduct of the board is influenced by the quality of its chairperson. The character and skills of the Chair and other members influence the quality of the discussion. I once served on a board of a professional association whose chairperson was a ‘democratic’ one. For each agenda item, she made sure that each member on the…
What makes a good board chairperson, part 1
As adequately underscored in my book, How to Get on The Board and Be a Fantastic Director, a good board chairperson sets the tone for the conduct of the board business by addressing two issues: (i) boardroom practices and conduct, (ii) boardroom tools and templates. (i) Boardroom practices and conduct of members There is no boardroom which is perfect. But some boards take the inefficiency to another level: suddenly an email pops up from the CEO announcing the upcoming meeting within two days. You find the agenda and board papers neatly stacked on the table as you take your sit.…
