Strategy and strategic planning are things that I see many boards struggle with. I feel like strategy is one of those things that you understand when you see it, but defining it is difficult. You know a good strategy when you see one, but getting to that point feels difficult, unclear, and challenging. Once you’ve gone through a strategic planning process, and have a strategy, the next thing to consider is execution – and getting that right is a whole other kettle of fish. So, to help clarify strategy – what is it, how it’s done, keeping execution on track, and measuring the right things, I’m thankfully joined by Simon Starr – a business coach and strategy facilitator for more than a decade.

Simon simplifies the world of strategy and strategic planning with easy-to-understand and easy-to-apply concepts and definitions for any organisation. I learned a lot from this conversation, and I hope you do too. 

Connect with Simon 
https://www.hoodsweeney.com.au/about/directors/simon-starr-director-performance-coaching

Find the full show notes here: https://getonboardaustralia.com.au/simplifying-strategy-with-simon-starr-ep-74/

Simplifying Strategy With Simon Starr | Ep. 74

I recently asked the members of my Board Talk Community what they felt is the most challenging part of STARTING their board journey. The majority of people responded that not knowing where to find board opportunities was their biggest challenge. So, I thought I would respond to that challenge in this episode because you may be feeling or experiencing the same challenge. To that end, I cover three places where you can find board opportunities: through advertisements, by using board recruiters, and through your network.

Download the Networking for Board Success resource: https://getonboardaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/networking-for-board-success.pdf

Find the full show notes here: https://getonboardaustralia.com.au/where-to-find-bo…ortunities-ep-75/

Where To Find Board Opportunities | Ep. 75

Jasleen Kaur and I dig into diversity and inclusion, what the state of the nation is regards to the work done so far, how organisations can make meaningful progress and impact, how to avoid tokenism, where to find diverse candidates (for your board or organisation), and how individual accountability and consequences are key in achieving desired inclusion outcomes. 

I didn’t want this to be another diversity and inclusion conversation; there’s a lot of those out there already (including episodes 61, 23, and 2 of this podcast). I asked Jasleen to share the grassroots thinking and approaches that any board can adopt to make real progress towards their inclusion and diversity goals. And if you’re wondering which comes first – diversity or inclusion – that’s the first question we tackle in this episode.

About Jasleen
Jasleen is a Senior Principle in Gartner’s Human Resources Research and Advisory Practice, based in Sydney. As part of her role at Gartner (a global research and consulting firm), she partners with Heads of HR and their talent management teams across the world, to drive their strategic decision-making and implementation in areas of Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Analytics, Performance Management and Wellbeing, using Gartner's evidence-based research.

Connect with Jasleen on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasleen-kaur-she-her-hers-34809459/

Check out Gartner's articles on Inclusion and Diversity https://www.gartner.com.au/en/human-resources/insights/diversity-equity-inclusion

Find the full show notes here: https://getonboardaustralia.com.au/how-to-do-diversity-and-inclusion-in-any-organisation-with-jasleen-kaur-ep-76/

How To Do Diversity And Inclusion In Any Organisation with Jasleen Kaur | Ep. 76

This episode was inspired by a recent conversation I had with a friend about her board career and the goals she has for it. We quickly got onto the topic of governance-centred courses, which is a common consideration for aspiring board members. We also got onto the topic of board recruitment and the commonly desired and required attribute of candidates is that they can demonstrate that they have completed a particular governance-centred course, rather than focusing on the corporate governance experience or expertise gained through other avenues. 

It became clear that there are two sides to the conversation about qualifications for board members: one from the aspiring board member perspective (when looking to join a board or further their board career), and one from the board perspective (when considering potential new board members). So, that’s what is covered in this episode. 

I unpack:
• The perception that you need a qualification to be on a board.
• If there is a particular governance course you should invest in.
• Why a qualification doesn’t make someone a great board member.
• How to navigate a board’s candidate’s required/desired governance education/qualification.
• How your board goals influence your governance education investment, including actual board service.
• The important of a comprehensive board search strategy for aspiring board members.
• How boards can be clearer when communicating desirable board candidate attributes, particularly as it relates to corporate governance knowledge and application.

Find the full show notes here: https://getonboardaustralia.com.au/qualifications-for-board-members-ep-77/

Qualifications For Board Members | Ep. 77

’Tis the season to be attending many functions. But how do you choose which events, functions, and parties to show up to? And how do you get the most out of the events you are attending (i.e. to support your board ambitions)?

I share three questions to ask yourself so that you can use your board goals as a guide to choose which events you attend so that you’re not over-exerting yourself by going to every function you’re invited to. You’re being strategic with your time, money, and energy, and you will get further, faster with your board goals.

Links to Articles mentioned in episode:
How to Set a Board Goal: https://getonboardaustralia.com.au/how-to-set-a-board-goal/
Five Considerations when Networking for a Board Position: https://getonboardaustralia.com.au/five-considerations-when-networking-for-a-board-position/
Five More Considerations when Networking for a Board Position: https://getonboardaustralia.com.au/five-more-considerations-when-networking-for-a-board-position/

If you would like to support the Stroke Foundation to prevent stroke, save lives, and enhance recovery, please visit https://strokefoundation.org.au/

See the full show notes here: https://getonboardaustralia.com.au/leveraging-events-to-build-your-board-career-ep-78/

Using Events To Build Your Board Career | Ep. 78

A recent conversation with an aspiring board member inspired me to capture my thoughts on this topic on the podcast. The focus of the conversation is a common situation that I see aspiring board members confront. Recording this episode will enable me to help more people work through this stage of their board career than I could get to by having a series of one-to-one conversations. 

Aspiring board member Steve reached out to me via LinkedIn and asked to have a conversation about his intentions to get onto boards. He was just joining two volunteer-based boards and was considering completing a governance course in the new year with the view to securing two paid board roles thereafter. And this was all in the context of him transitioning his professional career into a portfolio career. 

This may sound similar to your board career or board ambitions; a desire to secure a paid board role and seeing formal governance education as the logical box to tick to be able to get to paid board roles.

In this episode, I share my recommendations to Steve (and to you) on a better way to approach your board career; one that will get you further, faster by actually going slower.

How to Set a Board Goal [https://getonboardaustralia.com.au/how-to-set-a-board-goal/]
 
Setting and Calibrating your Board Goal [https://getonboardaustralia.com.au/setting-and-calibrating-your-board-goals-ep-49/]

Developing your Unique Value Proposition [https://getonboardaustralia.com.au/your-board-search-developing-your-unique-value-proposition/]

Demonstrating your Unique Value Proposition [https://getonboardaustralia.com.au/your-board-search-demonstrating-your-uvp/]

Networking for Board Success Workbook [https://getonboardaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/networking-for-board-success.pdf]

See the full show notes here: https://getonboardaustralia.com.au/what-to-do-before-seeking-a-board-role-ep-79/

What To Do Before Seeking A Board Role | Ep. 79

Education and development for new and aspiring board members. Helping you to get on board and thrive in the boardroom.

Get on Board Australia