If you have determined that your board is ready to embark on the board self‐assessment process, here are the steps that you can anticipate if you use an on‐line self‐assessment tool:

  1. Determine who will own the results – It is essential to know up‐front who will be charged with leading the effort and moving the board agenda forward. Find and recruit the champions and make sure they are clear on their ongoing responsibility for this effort.
  2. Make sure that the full board is on board – Be sure that all board members understand why you are doing this work and what you hope to have as an outcome. In most cases, it is highly advantageous to get the board’s commitment to participate in a retreat that will review the results and develop next steps.
  3. Administer the survey – Send a compelling e‐mail message to the board along with a link to the on‐line self‐assessment. Set a deadline and then plan to prompt, cajole, and nag to get full participation.
  4. Review the results – Look for the obvious issues, note where there is a significant difference in how board members responded to specific items, and consider the comments. Most organizations find it helpful to work with a consultant who can assist in interpreting the results and provide information as to how the responses compare to those of other organizations.
  5. Provide the board with results – In advance of a board retreat, share the results with the entire board.
  6. Hold a board retreat – It is enormously helpful to have the board conduct its own section‐by‐section analysis of the results. The board members perceptions of the issues and problems are most important. Having a neutral facilitator or consultant lead them through this process is highly recommended.
  7. Develop a governance agenda – Often started during the retreat, it is essential to talk about the next steps and how to move this work forward. Having a clear “to do” list for the board is a must!
  8. Activate your governance committee – Whether you have a formal committee or not, the champions you recruited (see step #1) need to set a meeting schedule and begin moving forward on the governance agenda.