Director self-assessment

Abstract

How do directors ensure that they are continuously learning and bringing their whole selves to the board to ensure the long-term success of the organisation that they oversee? Based on a framework of global corporate governance best practice, which can be used in all organisations anywhere in the world, this chapter of Questions To Ask (QTA) in the boardroom gives a high-level yet succinct introduction to director self-assessment. Brain health, emotional and moral intelligence, and boardroom behaviour are four areas for board directors to develop self-awareness in and to continually self-assess and self-develop. Overconfidence and complacency undermine judgement and ultimately performance, so it is important that directors feel they have never really cracked learning about themselves and remain open-minded to learning experiences, feedback from colleagues, and to insights gained from success and failure. The chapter’s introduction leads into the key QTA in the boardroom, giving the reader further insight into how to generate self-awareness and monitor progression. The suggested questions cover brain health, moral compass, emotional intelligence, and behavioural thinking, involving, inspiring, and performing.