Here's info from an international study on board chairs. The conclusion is that chairs that follow the 3 "e's"-engage, encourage, enable - will find success with their boards.
Since boards of directors are not always transparent, and the role of their chairs doesn't come with a handbook, we hope this report will shed light on the workings of board chairs. Board chairs share various issues internationally, but how they lead their boards effectively was of particular interest in the study.
All board chairs surveyed considered that their main task is to provide effective board leadership. We found strong similarities in the way chairs from various countries define the job itself and the way they go about it. Chairs play three specific roles: engaging, enabling and encouraging, what we call 3Es leadership.
Engaging board members to use their talents in the service of the board is a challenge for the chair. It is no simple task, particularly as most boards meet only a few times a year. Often directors are based in different locations and have multiple affiliations and limited availability.
Two practices to deal with this challenge described by the respondents were setting expectations up front and maintaining communication between board sessions.
Effective chairs recognise their main task is to provide constructive board leadership. In addition to specific practices, our report also showed that there are some personal characteristics which make some board leaders more effective than others Humility and ego management "If you intend to use your chair position as a platform for selfaggrandisement," one of the most experienced chairs remarked, "you are in for trouble." The terms "restrain", "non-domineering" and "leaving room for others" were cited when referring to productive board discussions which lead to effective decisions.
Enabling board members to work effectively as a group is the second function of the chair. To properly facilitate discussions at the board meetings, the chair must plan and prepare premeeting, in-meeting and post-meeting work.
Encouraging board members is important to the chair in order to keep the board motivated, engaged and productive.