The post pandemic board - a new collaborative endeavour PR File - Flipbook - Page 2
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The post pandemic board: a new collaborative endeavour
It all relates to the complexity of the
environment: no one can possibly
work out the right thing on their
own – it has to be a collaborative
endeavour.
In March 2021 we highlighted the need to review board capability as organisations
everywhere addressed the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns, responded
to the Black Lives Matter and other social movements and dealt with the implications of
Brexit.
Amongst the many moving parts a picture was already starting to form in terms of
organisations’ ability to stay abreast of and react to events, seize the opportunities, and
keep in touch with their customers and stakeholders in anticipation of what might become
a very different world.
By early 2022, we had started to notice trends within the chair community, especially in
how chairs of varying degrees of experience were describing their experiences in post, their
priorities and how they planned to develop their boards.
Those chairs who appeared to be thriving amidst uncertainty seemed to share particular
skills and attributes; others were struggling to adapt their boards fast enough, or were
reticent to consider new chair appointments, particularly pro bono.
To understand what, if anything, has changed in the requirements for chairing ‘post pandemic’
boards, we embarked on a conversation with purpose with nearly 60 chairs, board members
and CEOs currently addressing complex issues for their organisations.
We hope that this summary captures the recent experiences of many people currently
chairing boards and encourages future chairs to develop the skills that are likely to be
needed. We hope that you can personally relate to some of the themes covered and that you
find the contents thought provoking and validating.