Paul Smith 23/5/23 Paul Smith 23/5/23

Holistic Board Leadership

Increasingly, what separates modern board members from the pack is their holistic approach to their role(s).

They don’t see themselves as computers spitting out technical knowledge needed to aid a decision-making process. They are fully integrated and present humans and see their personal development and professional development as one and the same.

Paul Smith 25/4/23 Paul Smith 25/4/23

Earned Skills vs Learned Skills of the Boardroom

In this month’s ONE THING, Paul Smith looks at how we might better judge and nurture our learned skills, not just earned skills.

“Many boards are forced to recruit non-qualified directors to their boards even though most of them make a qualification a pre-requite. On the face of it, and if there was good work done to create a "screener" for candidates, this wouldn't be a problem. However, I believe the system of governance education is inherently flawed.”

Natalie Musico 14/4/23 Natalie Musico 14/4/23

Future Directors Awards Update

Future Directors has decided not to go ahead with the judging process for this year’s Future Director Awards.

Paul Smith 23/3/23 Paul Smith 23/3/23

“With Power Comes Responsibility”: Amnesty Chair Mario Santos talks Human Rights Due Diligence for boards

Human rights should be part of every board’s due diligence process. That’s the message from when we sat down with Mario Santos, the Chair of Amnesty International Australia, and FDI alum. But for the grittier details, read FDI Founder Paul Smith and Mario’s wide-ranging conversation below to learn more about the state of human rights today and how we can all take action from the boardroom, to make a positive impact on the world.

Paul Smith 21/3/23 Paul Smith 21/3/23

Board Directors ARE the problem

Language is just one of the systems that shape our understanding of boards, and how their work is viewed. It’s the linguistic system that frames the role. There are also class systems, power structures (from external to interpersonal), regulatory systems and more.

Paul Smith 14/3/23 Paul Smith 14/3/23

Unhivemind: The questions high-performing boards are asking

We’ve consulted with boards in various fields. Over the past year, we’ve helped them assess and implement modern strategic governance approaches, and trained them on everything from future-fit codes of conduct to more holistic stakeholder maps – all to get their governance teams functioning at a higher level.

Paul Smith 24/2/23 Paul Smith 24/2/23

Likeability In The Boardroom

To have truly honest and productive conversations about an organisation’s big strategic manoeuvres ahead, board directors need to feel safe and at ease around each other – to put something out, into the air, and not feel like they’re going to be judged for it.

Paul Smith 21/2/23 Paul Smith 21/2/23

Q&A with Jim Birch - How to land a board role and make an impact once you’re there.

Jim has lived what we at FDI preach – empathetic, inclusive, emotionally intelligent and modern board leadership. So we were enthused to sit down with him and ask a few questions about how to land a board role, and make an impact once you’re there.

Paul Smith 27/1/23 Paul Smith 27/1/23

Artificial Wisdom

What things should Artificial Intelligence be making board directors think about? ChatGPT’s (and more broadly, AI’s) implications for boards, strategy, risk and their role as organisational stewards. What things should it be making board directors think and talk about? What risks and opportunities does it pose for your organisation?

Paul Smith 20/12/22 Paul Smith 20/12/22

The Season of Self Reflection

Future Directors and Future Boards know in their bones that, yes, it’s important to avoid risks. But just as important, is seeking rewards. In a small way, that’s what these Awards are all about. Encouraging reward-seeking behaviour by creating a reward for reward-seeking behaviour.

Paul Smith 5/12/22 Paul Smith 5/12/22

Naming, shaming, and praising

Future Directors and Future Boards know in their bones that, yes, it’s important to avoid risks. But just as important, is seeking rewards. In a small way, that’s what these Awards are all about. Encouraging reward-seeking behaviour by creating a reward for reward-seeking behaviour.

Paul Smith 1/12/22 Paul Smith 1/12/22

New governance awards celebrates innovators flipping the boardroom on its head

Board training & education company Future Directors Institute (FDI) announces the launch and call-for-entries for their annual Future Director Awards. Now in its second year, the award categories have been expanded to include Future Boards as well as Future Directors based in Australia and New Zealand.

Natalie Musico 26/10/22 Natalie Musico 26/10/22

Widening the way in

As we know, the typical gateway into the corporate boardroom is through the C-Suite (CEO, CFO etc.) This means boards are always pulling from the same pool. So if the makeup of the C-Suite doesn’t change, neither will the boardroom.

Natalie Musico 26/9/22 Natalie Musico 26/9/22

Quiet Quitting Is Happening In Boardrooms

If you’ve served on a board (or boards) for any substantial time, you’ll know there are directors who are totally disengaged. They’ve quietly quit.

Natalie Musico 31/8/22 Natalie Musico 31/8/22

The E in ESG

Future Directors know the tide is turning. That climate action now, makes for a more stable business environment in the future, and forges immediate public goodwill. And that it isn’t just up to the big end of town – it’s also up to the small and mid fish to tighten their supply chain credentials too, including Scope 3 Emissions.

Paul Smith 5/8/22 Paul Smith 5/8/22

Board performance begins in the bedroom

We’re writing about mental burnout off the back of a recent convo FDI had with Dr Jaelea Skehan, Director of Everymind. Specifically its impact on board directors, the boardroom, and how to create a workplace culture that prevents it from happening.

Natalie Musico 29/7/22 Natalie Musico 29/7/22

Governing in ambiguity

What has happened to your board time commitment? The pandemic has exploded board director hours for the most adaptive and resilient boards. So what's the answer?

Natalie Musico 28/6/22 Natalie Musico 28/6/22

Boardroom Biases: Do as Apple says, not as they do.

Our 2022 Boardroom Biases Survey results are out. For the most part it’s good news, but boardrooms are still favouring cognitive clones.

There’s an acronym that describes a phenomena in social science studies: Most of the participants are WEIRD. That is, Western, Educated, and from Industrialised, Rich, Democratic countries. And that’s weird. That’s not representative of the entire scope of lived experience or human thought. What’s the point of diversity in the boardroom if everyone in the boardroom is WEIRD?

True diversity is brain deep.