Effective chairs - Association of Chairs: new guide for chairs
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Transcript of Effective chairs - Association of Chairs: new guide for chairs
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AM3: Effective chairs –Association of Chairs: new guide for chairs
A Chair’s Compass
Ruth LesirgeRosalind Oakley
About the Association of Chairs
• Launched October 2013• 4 aims:
– Support, challenge and stimulate Chairs– Develop knowledge and resources – Offer professional development and standards– Create a voice for Chairs
Our ethos
We aim to be:• Rigorous• Intellectually challenging• Creative and innovative• Committed to peer learning• Inclusive and collaborative
Events• Supper clubs• Sectoral events• Chairs’ briefings• Panel debates• Regional events
Charities and elections
Association of Chairs 9 September 2014
Caroline Cooke, Head of Policy Engagement and Research
Resources for Chairs
• Effective Charity Chairs a literature review
• A Chair’s Compass – a new guide for Chairs
• Chairs’ briefings• Factsheets and reading lists
A Chair’s Compass
• A navigational aid – to help you with your unique position
• Consists of:
A Compass with key navigational points A way to map your terrain Tips for the journey
A Chair’s Compass
Clarity of purpose
Cohesive board
Constructive relationships
Considered decision-making
Leadership
• Being willing and able to lead the organisation in partnership with the Chief Executive
• Understanding the distinctive leadership role of the Chair – negotiating boundaries, building trust
• Enabling the board to face and make the key decisions
Clarity of purpose
• Ensuring the organisation has clear direction and is achieving its aims.
• Ensuring the board has identified and made the big decisions about priorities and values
• Having an ongoing conversation about strategy and priorities
• Understanding the risks that could prevent you achieving your purpose
Cohesive board
• Harnessing the skills, experience and energy of the board team to its common purpose.
• Creating a board with shared goals and values• Ensuring it has the skills and experience
needed to cover the work• A board that ultimately is willing to unite
behind the decisions it reaches
Constructive relationships
• Ensuring a myriad of different relationships are working so that the organisation delivers
• Getting the best from the Chief Executive • Understanding who your key stakeholders are• Ensuring the organisation is accountable to
those it serves and its major stakeholders
Considered decision-making
• Stewarding the decision making process to ensure sound decisions are made.
• Ensuring the board understands the work of the charity and the difference it makes
• Understanding the full range of options open to the charity and the associated risks and opportunities
• Shared understanding of the organisation’s position and what would threaten its viability
Mapping the terrain
• The external context• The organisation• Chair–CEO relationship• The board team
Reasonable expectations for the journey
• A shared understanding of your role • Information about the organisation and its context• Feedback, support and encouragement from the
senior team and your board members• Regular review of your performance• Opportunities and budget for self-development• Realistic expectations – we all have weaknesses!
What is your experience?
• Shared understanding of your role? • The right Information about the organisation
and its context?• Appropriate support and encouragement from
SMT and trustees?• Regular review of Chair’s performance?• Budget for self-development?• Realistic expectations?
What you can do for yourself
• Induction – be proactive• Plan what you want to contribute and discuss
with colleagues• Seek support e.g. coach or mentor• Consider how a Vice or Deputy Chair can help• Identify your top learning needs• Ask for feedback and a review
Themes
• Deputy or Vice Chair• Chair review• Peer mentoring
Questions
What is your experience of this?• How many of you are using?• What works well?• Are there any problems?• What can AoC do to help?
Feedback
• Deputy or Vice Chair• Chair review• Peer mentoring
Get your copy of A Chair’s Compass
Join to get a print copyMembership fee: £50 or £100OR Download from our website
Want to know more?
Leave us your details to:
Join us (Fee £50 or £100)
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A Chair’s Compass
Clarity of purpose
Cohesive board
Constructive relationships
Considered decision-making
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