Summary of The Board Member's Playbook: Using Policy Governance to Solve Problems, Make Decisions, and Build a Stronger Board by Miriam Carver and Bill Charney

Transform your board governance with 'The Board Member's Playbook'. Discover how to make effective decisions and build a powerful board culture!

Welcome to the world of board meetings, where the coffee is lukewarm, the agendas are long, and, let's face it, most decisions are made in the hallway. Enter The Board Member's Playbook, a delightfully dense book that aims to transform the chaos of governance into organized bliss, all while making you feel like the superhero board member you were destined to be (cape not included).

This book isn't just for anyone; it's particularly aimed at those crafty souls who sit on boards and desperately want to put some order to the mayhem. If you've ever found yourself in a meeting debating whether to accept a cupcake donation to boost morale or determine the bylaws for a new governance model, this book is for you! Spoiler alert: cupcakes do not make you a better board member, but policy governance just might.

First of all, Policy Governance sounds like something out of a dystopian novel, but it's actually a framework that helps boards make decisions effectively. Imagine a world where board members don't just gather to sip coffee and nod sagely. Instead, they wield the mighty power of policies that guide decision-making and clarify roles. With the Playbook, you'll navigate the murky waters of governance, avoiding the icebergs of miscommunication.

The authors, Miriam Carver and Bill Charney, lay the groundwork with the basics of board governance. No, this isn't just about snazzy titles like "Chairperson" and "Secretary." We're talking about establishing clear boundaries and policies so everyone knows their dance moves. After all, the last thing you want at a board meeting is everyone stepping on each other's toes while trying to figure out who's in charge of what.

The book offers practical tools, including assessing your board's strengths and weaknesses-think of it as a performance review, but way more awkward. They introduce the idea of a "Board Self-Assessment," where members can evaluate themselves like an Oscar nominee checking off their qualification boxes. Spoiler: it's harder than it sounds.

As we move forward, the Playbook gets into the nitty-gritty of actual meetings. Spoiler alert: if you thought sitting in silence was a skill, think again! Carver and Charney encourage engagement and strategic discussions that can help your board make tough decisions. There's even advice on how to handle conflict-because let's be real, what board doesn't have that drama?

The tactical side of this tome presents governance as a process and not a race to be the most verbose. The authors emphasize that clarity in governance can solve issues before they even arise. It's like a superhero power that ensures your board meetings are less 'Lord of the Flies' and more 'The Avengers'.

And if you thought the Playbook just stops at governance, think again! It also covers leadership, accountability, and ways to create a strong board culture. Yes, you read that right-your board can actually be a place where people want to be, where creative ideas fly and someone might actually show up with fresh pastries instead of just yesterday's donuts (one can dream).

To sum it all up, The Board Member's Playbook is your go-to guide for avoiding governance pitfalls and turning your board into an effective powerhouse. Forget the fluff and get to the meat of policies that actually work! With the right tools and mindset, your board could be the stuff of legends-or at least a well-organized meeting that people don't dread attending.

So, gear up, board members! Governance doesn't have to be a chore; it can be a well-crafted drill-because when it comes to decision-making in organizations, a little structure goes a long way. Happy governing!

Maddie Page

Classics, bestsellers, and guilty pleasures-none are safe from my sarcastic recaps. I turn heavy reads into lighthearted summaries you can actually enjoy. Warning: may cause random outbursts of laughter while pretending to study literature.