governing for greatness - board training (lake superior state university)

GOVERNING FORGREATNESS

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY CHARTER SCHOOLS OFFICE ANNUAL ACADEMY BOARD

RETREAT

MR. JASON SARSFIELDMR. JOSEPH URBAN MS. JULIE HOPPER

JUNE 28, 2014

WWW.CHARTERINSTITUTE.ORG 2

RELATIONSHIPS

“People don’t care how much you know until they

know how much you care.”

WWW.CHARTERINSTITUTE.ORG

National Charter Schools Institute

• The Institute is a values-driven, nonprofit organization founded in 1995.

• Our mission is to strengthen the performance and productivity of the charter schools sector.

• We coach and consult with boards, schools, authorizers, support organizations and policymakers.

• Our team is composed of passionate professionals.

• We seek to understand, honor, and support our clients.

• We believe in and strive to uphold the Golden Rule.

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THIS SLIDE DECK IS ACCESSIBLE AT


Goals for Today and Tomorrow

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Share a Framework for Greatness and Establish a

Common Vocabulary

Get to Know One Another and Discuss Principles for Governing

Collaborate and Inspire Hearts & Minds

Answer Questions

Have Fun!

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-Lets Get to Know One Another-

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Superior Performance

Distinctive Impact

Lasting Endurance

What Is Greatness?

““ “Good is the enemy

of great.”Jim Collins

Collins’ Good-to-Great Framework

OUTPUT RESULTS

STAGE 1: DISCIPLINED PEOPLE

INPUT PRINCIPLES

Level 5 Leadership

First Who, Then What

STAGE 2: DISCIPLINED THOUGHTConfront the Brutal Facts

The Hedgehog Concept

STAGE 3: DISCIPLINED ACTIONCulture of Discipline

The Flywheel

STAGE 4: BUILDING GREATNESS TO LAST

Clock Building, Not Time Telling

Preserve Core, Stimulate Progress

DELIVERS SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE

MAKES A DISTINCTIVE IMPACT

ACHIEVES LASTING ENDURANCEBeyond Any Leader,

Idea or Setback

On the Communities It Touches

Relative to Its Mission

Achieving Breakthrough

The Flywheel

““ “Greatness . . . is largely a matter of conscious choice and discipline.”

Jim Collins

Purpose of Governance

“To ensure, usually on behalf of others, that an

organization achieves what it should achieve while

avoiding those behaviors and situations that should

be avoided.”

““Dr. John Carver

Boards That Make a Difference


Purpose of a Charter School Governing Board

“To ensure, on behalf of the public, that students are

learning, money and resources are well stewarded, and the organization passionately pursues greatness, while

modeling the highest legal and ethical principles.”

““Dr. James Goenner



Common Board Challenges

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Dysfunctional Group Dynamics

Disengaged Board Members

Uncertainty about Roles and Responsibilities

Source: Problem Boards or Board Problems? The Nonprofit Quarterly

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Some People Observe That …

“ Trustees are often little more than high-

powered, well-intentioned people

engaged in low-level activities.”

““Chait, Holland and Taylor


A Simple Way to Frame Roles

Governing Board

=

To Ensure

Management

=

To Execute

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Would a Great Leader Want to

Serve on or Work for Your Board?

The First Thing the Board Governs Is Itself

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“Know Thyself”


Model the Way

Inspire a Shared Vision

Challenge the Process

Enable Others to Act

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Encourage the Heart5

Five Practices of Exemplary Leaders

Kouzes and Posner

Level 5 Leadership Pyramid


What Level of Leader Do You Want?

Level 5 Leader

• Ambitious first and foremost for the cause, the organization, the work—not themselves.

• Displays a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will.

Level 3 Leader

• Organizes people and resources toward the effective and efficient pursuit of predetermined objectives.

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Level 5 Leaders Want to Work for a Board That …

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• Knows its purpose and why it exists• Understands it is the highest authority in

the organization

• Knows it represents the public• Is disciplined in its role and behaviors and

those of its individual members

• Is trustworthy and predictable.


Level 5 Leaders Want to Work for a Board That …

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• Uses its authority to empower, not strangle• Ensures the organization is effective

and efficient• Has high expectations and measures

performance

• Is unafraid to judge, but does so fairly

• Continuously earns credibility.


Chickens and Pigs!

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How Boards Earn Credibility

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• “They practice what they preach.”

• “They walk the talk.”

• “Their actions are consistent with their words.”

• “They put their money where their mouth is.”

• “They follow through on their promises.”

• “They do what they say they will do.”

The Leadership Challenge


12 Responsibilities of a Charter School Board

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ENSURE all students are being prepared for success in college, work and life.

ENSURE the public’s money and resources are well stewarded.

ENSURE the organization is run by a great leader and infused with a positive culture and learning environment.

ENSURE the terms of the charter contract are fulfilled and the organization is prepared for renewal.


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ENSURE the organization continuously improves and stays viable.

ENSURE the organization is true to its vision, mission and values.

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ENSURE the organization operates legally and ethically.


ENSURE goals are clear and people and programs are wisely empowered, supported, evaluated and held accountable.


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ENSURE the board and its members are positive ambassadors for the charter idea!

ENSURE the board recruits, orients and develops its members and its capacity to govern.

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ENSURE the board adopts and properly maintains its governing policies.

ENSURE the board speaks with one voice.



“Doing everything keeps us so busy we don’t have time to think about what is really important to

us.”

““

Where Does Your Board Spend Its Time?

First Things First


“““We believe boards that govern for greatness

ask wise questions and measure things that

really matter.”Dr. James Goenner



“““ Wisdom is the beneficial use of

knowledge; wisdom is information and

knowledge impregnated with

higher purposes and principles.”

Governing Wisely

Dr. Stephen CoveyThe 8th Habit


Wise Questions

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HOW WELL IS OUR SCHOOL …

Preparing Students for College, Work and Life (Academics)

Leveraging Resources (Finances)

Fulfilling Its Commitments (Organizational)


Is the academic program a success?

Is the school financially viable?

Is the school equitable & organizationally sound?

Key Renewal Questions“Keeping the End in Mind”


Strategic Planning

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• Mission, Vision and Goals

• SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities

and Threats)

• Your Hedgehog and Competitive Advantage

• Goals and Objectives (short and long term)

• Action Steps and Timeline

• Scorecard (activities vs. accomplishments)

THANK YOU!

NATIONAL CHARTER SCHOOLS INSTITUTE | 711 WEST PICKARD STREET | MOUNT PLEASANT, MICHIGAN 48858

VIEW THIS SLIDE DECK ONLINE AT WWW.CHARTERINSTITUTE.ORG

governing for greatness - board training (lake superior state university)

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