Board Self-Assessment is a critical aspect of the board’s responsibility for assessing and improving its own performance. Often, boards are tasked with assessing their own work in order to align the board’s skills and expertise with company strategies and to meet the expectations of investors for diversity. Boards should also conduct a thorough review at least every two years.

However the procedure of conducting a self-assessment for the board can be a daunting undertaking. A lot of board members have never completed one before, and making them commit time to the process can take some effort. Additionally many boards struggle to find the ideal balance between the demands of their job and their board’s duties.

To ease the process to ease the process, it’s recommended to hire a consultant for board governance who can facilitate the entire process from beginning to end. The consultant will prepare an online survey, distribute it and continue to collect feedback. They will also review the data to find relevant insights and bring these back to the board Board Self-Assessment Checklist to discuss.

Once the results are out the board should utilize the results to establish clearer expectations for itself. This will reduce confusion about the role of a board member as well as the best way to carry out their tasks. The assessment will help to identify areas in which needing additional training. It could also help clarify the expectations of directors in their personal life which is crucial for those who are full-time workers.