Course summary

Well done on completing this course. Here is a summary of the key ideas from the course. We encourage you to discuss what you have learnt with your team.

“When leaders grow other leaders around them, the whole organisation rises up.”

Key responsibilities and essential qualities:

• The chairperson leads the board, not the organisation
• The board does not report to or work for the chairperson
• The chairperson is not the first among equals. He or she is equal to each of their colleagues sitting around the table.
• The chief executive works for the board. He or she does not report to the board chair

Typical responsibilities include:

• Coordinating the development of the board’s calendar. For example, ensuring that the board discusses and approves the strategic plan, annual operating plan and budget, and making sure each of these has their proper time and place on the board’s agenda.
• Chairing the board meetings,
• Being the chief boundary manager between the board and management,
• Assisting with the recruiting and orientation of new board members

Leaders guide questions:

• What are the current responsibilities of your chairperson?
• Are there any responsibilities that the chairperson should be undertaking and is currently not?
• What is going well?
• What gaps do you have and how might you close those gaps?