Virtual AGMs, virtual board meetings, virtual board evaluations … virtual everything
Seamus Gillen BA MBA FCIS FCG
Author "Building Better Boards" (Bloomsbury), keynote speaker, broadcaster, thought leader, governance adviser, director, trainer, mentor, evaluator; working with Boards, Directors, Co Secs; Founder, ValueAlpha
Chris Whitty (Chief Medical Officer in England) stated, at a No10 press briefing this week, that 'social distancing could last all year', confirming what we all already knew - that life will never be the same again, at least for the foreseeable future. And when Sir David Attenborough then opined that working from home should be made compulsory, we might envisage a future where lifestyle changes become permanent.
For those of us working in and with boards - directors, company secretaries and advisers - LinkedIn has been awash with helpful features on how to participate effectively in remote AGMs and board meetings, in the light of these changed circumstances.
But while we can apply ourselves to understanding new challenges such as the technology of online meetings, what strikes me is how we also need to change our mindset to flex to our new way of life.
And that means letting go of the old way of doing things, and learning new patterns of behaviour.
This applies particularly to staying in touch with each other. Our world of social gatherings and social interaction is over - for a long time. This is a daunting prospect, and I'm sure I'm not the only one still struggling to take in the implications of not being able to see friends and colleagues - other than online - for maybe another year!
As professionals, however, we know that lockdown and social distancing will not last forever.
We know we have to be ready for the world that faces us as the shutters come up.
And, in a competitive world, we know that it is the organisations which are best positioned to emerge from crisis who will fulfil their destiny.
The private, members-only, Facebook Group - Building Better Boards - aims to bring together the governance professionals who want to
- continue to learn and grow and develop their governance competence and capability - learning 'new skills for a new world'
- use their time well to be ready for the resumption of business
- network and build relationships
The launch webinar for the Building Better Boards initiative is on THURSDAY 14 MAY at 6pm (UK time) - please register here - https://lnkd.in/ePDHYU8
If you want to be part of the conversation about how to be ready for the 'new world', join me on THURSDAY 14 MAY at 6pm!