I Believe In Fairness, Fun, And Sharing What I’ve Learned

With The People Who Make This Planet A Great Place To Live

No Blahs!

My mom always talked about the February Blahs (some call it February Blues). Like clockwork, on the 32nd day of the new year, the Blahs entered our household and our collective mood dropped to the basement. It's a real thing and, if you have it, I genuinely feel for you. This year I started to wonder whether, for me, it had just become a habit. I intend to test this idea by fight the Blahs! I've heard that counting blessings is a good way to start.

(Non-blessing) I started off January with a terrible cold; (blessing) I could have been sicker! (Non-blessing) I went to Calgary for R&R but was too miserable to really enjoy it; (blessing) I can go again and have a do-over. (Non-blessing) Desk top and laptop are on their last legs; (blessing) I actually saved $ for this situation (when has that ever happened?). (Non-blessing) I've been invited to respond to several RFPs which I avoid because they are a crummy way to articulate value and enter into a business relationship; (blessing) people want to work with me. (Big Blessings) I have work, a warm place to live, food, and the best friends and family.

It has taken 10 months but I finally got back to Golden, a magical place for me. It was a time to reconnect with friends, enjoy the mountain air, and create. I didn't finish my new play but I made progress and was truly inspired. What took me so long to go back?

I know better...

I hope February finds you spending time in a happy place, with many blessings to count.

/lmwe

What Makes an Effective Director?

Back in the fall, Watson published an article about what makes an effective director (WATSON Views Sept.27/23). I like how the article focuses on HOW directors should show up and not on WHAT they need to do. You know that much of my work is about board behaviour, and not just on director role descriptions. The article also focuses on director impact and can be used with any types of board.

Listen and build. Listen to what is said, process it, and build on it by adding your own perspective. Prepare your questions/comments in advance, and then flex in the moment to get to a better outcome.
Know how to ask hard questions. Have the courage to ask and the ability to frame difficult questions in a clear and respectful way (so as to not trigger defensiveness).
Put in the work. Read board materials in advance, brainstorm strategic questions, and get the information you need on key topics. Do what you say you’ll do.
Contribute broadly. Whether you bring specialist or generalist skills to the table, approach each issue broadly. Share your perspectives on multiple topics. (An experienced board member recently shocked me by abstaining on a board vote because “the topic is not in my area of expertise.” I needed to remind him about this point. Do your homework, ask questions, consider the recommendation, and make the best judgement you can. Don’t withhold!).
See around corners. Watch for emerging trends that could impact the organization. Anticipate consequences or risks, and then share them. Those in-house can’t see what you see.
Embrace feedback and learning. Be open, self-aware, and reflective. Give and receive feedback with humility and consideration. Learn new things; hone your skills.
Value and contribute to the board’s culture. Do your part in building a positive board culture. Help the group dynamic. Build trusted relationships around the table.
Respect the line. Understand your governance oversight role and don’t dive into operations. If the board approaches the line, help them refocus and not cross it.
Strive for continual improvement. Strive for continuous improvement; strengthen what works well and identify high impact areas to improve.
Have the courage to do what is right. Be alert to signs of trouble and ask questions to ensure the board is behaving in an ethical, responsible manner. Speak up when you need to. (For me, it always comes back to Acts of Courage at the Board Table!).

How are YOU showing up at your board meetings? Next time, try one of these that you haven’t used before. Good luck!

On Liking People and Things

Some People Who Made My Life Better in January

Pamela Anthony, Stephanie Baran, David Cheoros, Patricia Darbasie, Janis Dowe, Liz Garratt, Carrie Habinski, Jim Hopson, Hiro Kanagawa, Julia Kopala, Donna/Lyle Kuzik, Pat Macdonald, Karen MacKenzie, Moira MacKinnon, Alli Marshall, Kelly McClung, Sherrill McGilvray, Robyn Mott, Andy Northrup, Riverhouse Regulars, Carole Ross, Lori Schmidt, Theresa Tsoukalas, Susan/Babe Wanamaker, Gord West, Lil West

"You cannot do kindness too soon,

for you never know how soon

it will be too late."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson