Reframing Governance: Leading Practices from Ontario’s Health System Gwen DuBois-Wing, RN, MHA, PhD, PCC ISI Fellow, Fielding Graduate University June 13, 2018 @GDuBoisWing © International Copyright June 2018 G. DuBois-Wing
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Presenter Disclosure Presenter: Gwen DuBois-Wing Relationships with financial sponsors: Grants/Research Support: Speakers Bureau/Honoraria: Consulting Fees: Patents: Other:
None None None None None
Objectives for this Session Profile how higher performing boards adopted Governance as Leadership (generative mode). Share leading practices that: Promote a culture of inquiry in the boardroom Impact the organization’s mission.
Explore opportunities to adopt leading practices in your boardroom.
Performance
Problem Boards or Board Problem? Reform
Purpose
(Chait, Ryan & Taylor, 2012)
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CEO Engagement
Board/CEO Engagement
Board Engagement
(Chair, Ryan & Taylor, 1996) 6
“We all make up a circle. In the center of that circle is a tree, and everybody’s view of the tree is different. One person says, ‘There’s fruit that’s ripening.’ Another person says, ‘There’s a blight on the tree.’ A third person says, ‘There’s where it got struck by lightning.’ And it’s all of those things! If I’m not seeing the blight, I need the person who is to tell me so. I can’t operate without that intelligence or I’ll be going off halfcocked.” ~ Michael Green, 2014
Governance as Leadership: Modes
(Chait, Ryan & Taylor, 2005) 8
Modes of Governance I. Fiduciary. Stewardship of tangible assets. Focus – oversight. Ensure legal & financial accountability. Deploy resources wisely; Evaluate leadership & hold CEO accountable. Monitor results.
II. Strategic. Partner w/ senior staff. Focus – foresight. Scan internal & external environments; Review, modify & adapt strategic plans/vision. Evaluate strategy performance against measures. III. Generative. Sense-making, discernment & framing issues. Focus – insight. Engage in sense-making, meaningmaking & framing complex challenges. 9
When should the generative mode be used in the boardroom?
Creating & Sustaining a Generative Mode in a Boardroom: Research Purpose Explore factors that a board chair and CEO perceive create and sustain a generative mode of governance in a boardroom.
Sample 15 Board Chairs and 15 CEOs/EDs 30 interviews • 9 hospital Board Chairs and CEOs • 5 CHC Board Chairs and CEOs/EDs • 2 CCAC Board Chairs and CEOs © International Copyright June 2018 G. DuBois-Wing
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Major Findings: Themes What do board chairs and CEOs perceive as factors that create and sustain a generative mode of governance in a boardroom? Six major themes:
Culture of inquiry Board/CEO relationship Leadership role of the Board Chair Board engagement Expertise and skills Time
Seventh theme: Context © International Copyright October 2016 G. DuBois-Wing
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What do board chairs and CEOs perceive as factors that create and sustain a generative mode of governance in a boardroom?
Leadership Board/CEO Role of Chair Relationship
Time
Generative Mode
Culture of Inquiry
Board Expertise/ Engagement Skills
Š International Copyright June 2018 G. DuBois-Wing
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Theme: Board Relationships Board Chair/CEO Relationship
Board Chair/Board Relationship
Board Relationships
Respect
Trust
Board as a Team © International Copyright June 2018 G. DuBois-Wing
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Theme: Leadership Role of the Board Chair Setting the Tone Agenda Setting
Leadership Role of the Board Chair
Facilitating Healthy, Productive Discussions Asking Important Questions Being Open to Feedback Fostering Board Wholism
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Theme: Culture of Inquiry Learning Board
Board Information
Culture of Inquiry Discerning
Sensemaking
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Culture of Inquiry: A Learning Board Exploited various opportunities for learning (learning organization) Various formats: retreats, provincial conferences, self-directed learning, governance sessions, etc.
Storytelling (i.e. Client stories) Tours: Internal & external
External experts Dedicated resources for board development © International Copyright June 2018 G. DuBois-Wing
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Culture of Inquiry: Board Information
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Theme: Board Engagement Board Participation
Use of Board Capital
Engagement at Boundaries
• Active participation • Preparation • Attendance
• Intellectual • Social • Political • Reputational
• Internal • External • View of broader health system
© International Copyright June 2018 G. DuBois-Wing
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Theme: Expertise/Skills Purposeful, rigorous recruitment process • Use of skills matrix • Diversity • Balancing skills and diversity – “an art”
Building a recruitable board Context matters • Current needs of organization • Environmental realities
© International Copyright June 2018 G. DuBois-Wing
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Theme: Generative Mode of Governance Focus on Consequential Issues
Comfort with Ambiguity
Generative Mode
CEOs want to be Challenged
Changing the way Business is Done
Generative Conversations Š International Copyright October 2016 G. DuBois-Wing
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Generative Mode: Changing the Way Business is Done Rethinking governance: • Beyond traditional lens • Trimodal governance
Systems perspective: • Focus on the broader health system • Being part of the solution
Systems leadership Commitment to excellence: • Focus on quality • Person/family/community-focussed • Accountability
© International Copyright June 2018 G. DuBois-Wing
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Creating a Boardroom Shift
Governance: Shifting the Question “We must resist the urge to assume that task and structure are the sum total of governance. We can more easily do this if we shift our thinking from “What is governing?” to “Toward what ends are we governing?” (Trower, 2013)
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Shifting the Boardroom Crafting the board agenda • Goals
Meeting preparation Board information: • Right amount • Types & purpose • Technology, access
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Shifting the Boardroom Dialogue, deliberation, sensemaking • Framing • Time • Places/spaces
Leadership • Distributive
Other strategies & tactics
© International Copyright June 2018 G. DuBois-Wing
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Creating & Sustaining a Generative Mode in the Boardroom Fully engages the board
Enhances board & organizational performance
Changes the way board work is done
Focus on Consequential Issues
Governance as Leadership
Engages the “Collective Mind”
© International Copyright June 2018 G. DuBois-Wing
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Contact Information Gwen DuBois-Wing DuBois-Wing + Associates Email: gdubois-wing@tbaytel.net @GDuBoisWing
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