Policy Governance® is a model of board leadership that allows boards to be effective. Policy Governance gives boards the capacity and role clarity to truly be trustees for the member-owners.

Policy Governance addresses the fundamental challenges of governing boards:

• How can representatives of member-owners responsibly exercise control over activities they will never completely see, toward goals they cannot fully measure, through jobs and skills they themselves will not master?
• How can boards remain accountable, without needlessly constraining the creativity and responsibility of management?
• How can boards lead when Board members disagree, when time is limited, and current issues demand attention?

Policy Governance provides benefits including:

Clarity of Group Values. The authority of the board is not as individuals but as a group. Policies are the explicitly stated “voice” of the board as a whole.
Clarity of Board & Management Roles. A board adds unique value to the cooperative. Governing by policy clarifies the board’s job and focuses the board on leadership. Clear guidance through policies effectively uses the expertise of the manager and the board.
Leverage and Efficiency. By handling the most fundamental issues through agreed upon policies, the board can affect many decisions with less effort. Boards that use time well are more effective.

How can your Board get started with Policy Governance?

1. See a possibility for improving your board’s work, perhaps related to role clarity, a manageable workload and better results for your cooperative.
2. Explore the idea. Either a board member or the manager brings the idea of Policy Governance to the board. The board and board members seek more information by reading Policy Governance material and talking with others.
3. Get an overview. The board engages a knowledgeable expert to provide an overview and answer questions about Policy Governance for the whole board.
4. Decide. The full board decides whether to operate with Policy Governance or not.
5. Commit. If the Board decides on Policy Governance, a commitment is made and the board proceeds with implementation.

For assistance and more information, contact one of our Board Consultants:
Mark Goehring, Team Leader – 802-380-3824 – MarkGoehring@cdsconsulting.coop
Leadership development, Policy Governance, Facililtation, Member linkage

Bill Gessner – 612-823-4509 – BillGessner@cdsconsulting.coop
Facilitation, Board Role in Expansion, Management Recruitment

Michael Healy – 802-864-9724 – MichaelHealy@cdsconsulting.coop
Policy Governance, Team Building, Communication

Marshall Kovitz – 505-256-1241 – MarshallKovitz@cdsconsulting.coop
Board Training, Facilitation, Group Process

Marilyn Scholl – 802-387-6013 – MarilynScholl@cdsconsulting.coop
Policy Governance, Board Training, Facilitation, and Assessment

Bentley Lein – 608-784-0249 – BentleyLein@cdsconsulting.coop
Leadership, Board Training

Thane Joyal – 315-380-4522 – ThaneJoyal@cdsconsulting.coop
Leadership, Board Training

® Policy Governance is a registered trademark of John Carver.