How to Deal with a Micromanaging

Board

By !Marilyn Gardner !Lawyer

Why do boards

micromanage?• They care about the

company• They want to add

value

That’s a good thing, right?

• Board members often micromanage because they don’t know how else to add value

Not always…

• They spend their time trying to revamp everything

• It often distracts from the big picture

What can I do to fix it?

Here are some ideas:

Engage the board in talks about how they can evaluate the reputation and name of an organization

Build agendas focusing on the big picture:

• Values• Mission

• Success• Measuring progress

towards big goals

Provide a financial dashboard to make it easy for board members to track financial progress

Implement an annual budget and authority policy to give the Chief Executive clear direction

• This will minimize the number of times the Chief Executive feels compelled to ask the board for permission before doing something

Create a board action calendar of compliance and governance due dates

Clarify roles and divide responsibility for such activities as:

• Book-keeping

• Bank statements• Check-signing

Educate the board on various risk management protections the organization has in place

Bring in a !professional• A consultant to

provide board training

• A more experienced board member to set an example

Have the Chief Executive take stock of the company’s performance and consider what further steps can be taken to re-establish confidence and trust