Follow up to our recent posting The Old Boys Network is Dead (Part 1)

Or at least it should be!! This posting is going to be the first in a three part series focused on how things are changing in board structure and strategy that more closely resemble the way ABA has always built, managed and analyzed boards of directors and advisory boards. In Part 1, we will begin to analyze “who” needs to be on your board. Parts 2 and 3 will go through what board members need to be contributing in today’s economic climate and regulatory environment and finally some best practices on how to implement this change in your organization.

Well, not really...I have a hard enough time getting my wife to listen to me!! It does seem like they are starting to get it, though. I wrote a blog posting on 9/29/2008 Examining Recent US Corporate Board Failures at Banks and Wall Street Firms where I analyzed the makeup of the boards of directors of several failed financial firms. What was clear to us back then was the lack of strategic leadership on these boards.

As the founder and managing partner of ABA, I have an incredible opportunity to meet with and speak to some of the brightest minds in business today. I have been hearing more and more from our advisors and clients that they are recognizing unique opportunities in this tough economic period. Many feel that these opportunities are the types that come once in a century.

Advisory Board Architects, the preeminent leader in advisory board process and engagement, is pleased to announce the launch of our proprietary software platform called the ABA Board Management Tool. This unique instrument is designed to help boards work more efficiently and with a much higher degree of accountability.

I attended the second annual Women on Boards event earlier this week put on by Sharp Up Swing. It was an amazing event and a well-attended event with over 80 people there (I was one of only two men at the event by the way). It was extremely informative for those women looking for board opportunities or information on boards.

This post is a follow-up to Examining Recent U.S. Corporate Board Failures at Banks and Wall Street Firms.

With the news of the latest financial institution to fall - Washington Mutual, I was curious to know why at this point no one has thought to ask what are the Corporate Boards of Directors of these companies have been doing?

These guidelines have been developed from the ABA methodology and are based on our process of building effective advisory boards. This is part one of a two part discussion, the first part will speak primarily to advisory boards and the second part will deal more with Boards of Governance. Although this first part of this topic is centered mostly around advisory boards these guidelines can be followed for either Corporate, or Advisory Boards whether non-profit or for profit organizations. This evaluation process can and should take some time. 

I have read a lot of “how to” stories out there on how to build and use advisory boards but this is the first one that I have seen that actually gives some practical advice. This Inc Magazine article gives some very good and unique ideas that I have not seen from other articles that I have read and reflects some of our own best practices.