Webinar Recording: Board culture and dynamic governance relationships

The Charity Governance Code states that good governance enables and supports a charity’s compliance with relevant legislation and regulation. But crucially it also states that good governance also promotes attitudes and a culture where everything works towards fulfilling a charity’s vision. In this session we will explore how Board dynamics affects the wider culture of a charity.  

Increasingly good governance is focusing on not just written codes but good conduct and behavioural traits. In this session we will explore the role of Codes of Conduct, alongside the basic principles of board dynamics, systems, values and outcomes.

Dr Leslie B. Brissett: Director of the Group Relations Programme at the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations will cover the following:

• Introduction to the subject of Board dynamics.
• The dynamics that shape not-for-profit boards.
• How do board dynamics affect the wider culture of an organisation.
• What are the unconscious patterns that can hinder boards.
• Politics, power and privilege in boards.
• Good board dynamics.

Rosamund McCarthy Etherington, on the main changes to Principles 3 (Integrity) and Principle 6 (Equality, Diversity and inclusion) of the Charity Governance Code:

• The board should understand and address any inappropriate power dynamics to avoid Damaging the charity’s reputation, public support for its work and delivery of its aims
• No one person or group has undue influence in the charity. The board recognises how individual power can affect dealings with others
• The board acts with integrity.
• Recognising and countering any imbalances in power, perspectives and opportunities in the charity, and in the attitudes and behaviour of trustees, staff and volunteers, helps to make sure that a charity achieves it’s aims.

Dr Kaneez Shaid, Head of Community Engagement at Rethink Mental Illness and former Chair of Citizens UK:

• What is the community organising/Saul Alinsky model of running meetings and understanding power?
• How can boards centre the communities and the people that a charity serves
• How do meeting dynamics and affect culture
• Clear structures, clear rules and boundaries, and good behaviours.