Governance effectiveness workshop to enhance council member performance
Client need
Our client — a nonprofit healthcare organization — sought assistance in equipping its section leaders and governing board/council members with the tools and strategy frameworks necessary to accomplish three objections:
- build a culture of effective governance
- address and resolve conflicts
- align mission-related objectives with the organization's broader goals
Additionally, they sought to foster consistent engagement and maintain strong accountability practices, ultimately optimizing both council and group performance to ensure that all sections remain vibrant, collaborative and focused on advancing the organization’s mission.
Baker Tilly’s solution-driven approach
Working closely with the client’s leadership, Baker Tilly helped develop and implement a comprehensive strategy framework for optimizing governance across both the organization’s various sections and the governing council. Recognizing that effective governance is fundamental to organizational success, we helped the client strengthen collaboration, inclusivity and strategic alignment throughout its leadership structure.
To achieve these objectives, we designed our engagement around six core focus areas, each addressing a critical client need and associated goal:
Equipped leaders with practical governance frameworks and real-world examples tailored to foster collaboration, inclusivity and strategic alignment — empowering them to adapt these models to their unique section environments.
Provided tools and practices to constructively address and resolve conflicts within the governing council and among council members and constituents—emphasizing mutual respect and shared values to prevent and mitigate disputes.
Helped align individual mission-driven goals with the broader objectives of the governing council, reducing the risk of misaligned agendas and promoting a unified, mission-driven approach to leadership.
Developed approaches to encourage active and regular participation, foster open communication and recognize contributions—supporting sustained group performance and member satisfaction.
Delivered insights into the root causes of conflict — particularly those arising from diverse governance preferences — and guided the process of navigating these differences through shared purpose and values, thereby minimizing the costs of collective action.
Introduced effective mechanisms — such as progress reports, performance reviews and feedback sessions — to ensure accountability at both individual and group levels, underscoring its vital role in achieving group effectiveness.
Results achieved
Through the Baker Tilly-facilitated interactive workshops and sessions, we helped our client gather real-time insights from section leaders and governing council members across various functional and business areas. These forums promoted open dialogue, enabled participants to prioritize their most urgent governance needs and fostered the collaborative development of actionable strategies.
The Baker Tilly team delivered insights and identified priorities that were synthesized and presented to the client’s leadership for further alignment and action. This collaborative, consensus-driven approach established a strong foundation for ongoing governance improvements, supporting the client’s mission to cultivate vibrant, cooperative and mission-driven sections.