The Starr approach to Board Development
A consultation approach underpins Starr's approach to Board evaluation and Board development:
- Client-led: helping the client raise their awareness, promoting ownership, choice & self efficacy to achieve greater Board performance
- Iterative: each step brings new learning and awareness
- Generative: the Client learns throughout the Board development process and beyond. after the Board development process is completed.
The Board development process is not prescriptive, but typically consists of a series of steps tailored to the Board's needs:
- exploratory consultation meeting with the chief executive and Chair person to confirm the aims and objectives of the Board evaluation, the organisational background and relevant context
- presentation to the whole board detailing the background and aims of the Board development work, the timescales and activities included to assess and improve Board performance
- a Board evaluation stage which consists of the following:
- confidential semi-structured interviews with key or all members of the board
- a questionnaire completed by all Board members
- observation of the Board in action
- production of a Board development report documenting the findings during the Board evaluation
- presentation to the Chair and chief executive of the Board performance report and the key themes which have emerged
- presentation of the Board performance report to the whole Board, followed by a workshop to explore the findings in more detail
- creation of a development plan to improve Board performance
- execution of the Board performance plan.
In addition to working with the Board as a group, Starr is also able to undertake individual development of board members through executive coaching and mentoring, thereby enhancing individual's contributions to the effectiveness of the board.