Bood on Board is a must-read monthly newsletter that shares governance stories and tips for leaders who want to add more value to their boardroom experience.

Ho Ho Ho: Holiday songs and movies are everywhere. Shopping is in progress. Get togethers with friends and family are taking place and being planned. Wishing all of my readers a special festive time with the people who are most important to you. Take some time to refresh and reflect. And hugs to those of you who might find this time of year hard.

2025 Reflection: This time of year also brings a reflection on 2025 - my choices, opportunities, successes and disappointments. It also bring a sense of renewed hope and purpose for what 2026 can become. My 2025 was a nice mix of personal fun, professional opportunities, and support of others. A couple of highlights: a fun trip to Portugal and Vienna, working on an interesting governance training project, and participating in a board meeting where I felt that I made a difference. I am grateful. I can do more. Onward to 2026.

How productive was your last board meeting?

A friend of mine, Alex, and I have been talking about Boardroom ROI – boards adding the most value in the short time they have together.

After a recent strategic planning meeting, Alex found herself replaying the discussion, trying to pinpoint where the board had genuinely added value. And where it might have chipped away at it.

She decided to give the meeting a “board value factor” score out of 10 – a subjective but honest view of how much the board improved the quality of management’s thinking and the organization’s direction. Her verdict: 8/10.

Why?

Free Resources:

Strategic Planning Guide - A five-stage roadmap to sharpen your next planning cycle and ensure that board discussions lead to real decisions and results.

Should the Board Approve This? - A six step filter to guide organizations struggling to distinguish between board-level and management-level decisions.

5 Tips for Better Board Reports - Five tips to create board reports that are concise, clear and insightful, helping your directors quickly understand what’s important.

The Board Value Factor: 8 Questions to Score Your Next Meeting

Boards and management teams invest a huge amount of time in board meetings coordination, materials and discussions. What we rarely do is pause afterward and ask: “Did the board actually improve the outcome?”

One practical way to do this is to introduce a simple “board value factor” – a quick, qualitative assessment of how much the board improved the quality of thinking, decisions and execution on important and complex topics.

I developed these 8 questions to help you assess the board value factor after the board meeting that consider whether the board was well positioned to add value and whether it actually did.

1. Information Quality

Did management bring enough of the right information?

• Did the materials help the board understand the issue, options and implications?

• When directors asked questions, did management clearly explain their rationale and views?

If the information is overwhelming, unclear or isn’t decision-ready, the conversation will reflect that.

2. Space for Discussion

Was there enough time for a meaningful conversation?

• Did the agenda allow space for genuine exploration, not just presentations and quick comments?

• Or did the discussion feel rushed, fragmented or squeezed between other items?

Time pressure is one of the fastest ways to destroy board value.

3. Discussion Dynamics

Did people feel able and safe to contribute?

• Did management and directors participate, sharing information and offering different perspectives?

• Did the Chair actively draw out quieter voices and manage dominant ones?

High-quality decisions need psychological safety, balanced participation and diverse views.

4. Discussion Inputs

Did the board bring something new to the table?

• Did directors raise relevant concepts, risks or opportunities that management had not fully considered?

• Did they explore alternate viewpoints that enriched the analysis?

If the board is only asking for clarification on management’s thinking, the board hasn’t broadened the conversation.

Giving Back by Supporting Non-Profits: Is your organization improving the world on a tight budget? Each year Puimac Consulting Ltd. provides a number of presentations pro bono. Non-profits with limited budgets can inquire for more information and on availability.

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