In recent months, there has been a rising level of interest in Boardcraft. Word is getting out it seems, so a précis is probably timely. Curious? Grab a coffee and read on...
Boardcraft is a term I coined: a governance-focused initiative help boards operate well in practice—not just describe on paper what they are supposed to do. At its core, Boardcraft is about treating board work (that is, corporate governance) as a practical craft to help boards move from a compliance mindset to a performance mindset.
Why is this important? Many boards comply with prevailing statutes and governance codes but they, or the companies they govern, still perform poorly. The underlying problem is a barrier lying in plain sight: one cannot comply their way to performance.
Boardcraft offers a pathway forward for boards wanting to perform well and govern with impact.
The big shift is this: Effective governance is not a product of structures, policies, or independence per se; it emerges from the quality of thinking, interaction, and decision-making in the boardroom. What is more, Boardcraft is not something I dreamt up at a whiteboard or while driving my old car: it is the product of ground-breaking research conducted a decade ago. In essence, it helps boards understand:
- The capabilities, activities and behaviours necessary if boards are to exert influence beyond the boardroom, especially on organisational performance
- How to make high-quality decisions together
- How to handle conflict and disagreement
- How chairs can lead effective discussions
- The board's role in shaping strategy, not just approving management's proposals
Ultimately, Boardcraft is a mindset to help boards improve their judgement, oversight, steerage and guidance; work as a functional group and make great decisions (think: positive board dynamics); and, ultimately, drive high levels of organisational performance. In effect, to govern with impact.
Boards and directors interested to learn about Boardcraft, the Strategic Governance Framework (the underlying foundation), and how to embrace a Boardcraft mindset in practice have several options:
- Workshops and board development sessions (half-, full- and two-day options, fully curated)
- Tailored coaching and mentoring for chairs
- Governance diagnostics (to assess how well a board functions)
- Real-world case studies, rather than textbook or theoretical models
What to learn more? Check this article, and get in touch with your questions. I'm available globally.
PS: the headline picture is not a photo of me; it is an AI-generated image. Pretty good eh?