Standing Back!

During our board effectiveness reviews we often hear the refrain “we don’t spend enough time standing back”. In other words, creating the space to just think and talk about the bigger things that are happening around us that might have an impact.

Sometimes it’s particularly about the risks – a concern that thinking can get smothered by detail and volume. (We’ll tackle this in an upcoming Bulletin around material controls and principal risks following on from the new FRC Code.) But often it’s wider than that – a feeling that there is constant change so waiting for an annual strategy day isn’t enough.

Here are a few tips on how to “stand back” that bit more, often through introducing some “pauses” in meetings.