Work Together for Success
The May 12, 2011 Wall Street Journal had an article on the congressional hearings regarding the AT&T-T-Mobile merger. The article stated, “Congress has no formal role in deciding whether the deal is allowed or not.” On May 13 the WSJ had a short note about Congress questioning Facebook’s security.
It seems to me that these are day-to-day issues that have agencies assigned to regulate and monitor them. So why is Congress involved? Okay, that’s a rhetorical question because we know it’s for publicity.
Compare the above to a company or non-profit’s board of directors. (I’m very close to this issue as I take over as president of my Rotary Club on July 1.) Boards, in my opinion, should deal with strategic issues and tactical problems. When board meetings spend time simply reporting what they’ve done or discussing operations (not solving problems) they are not fulfilling their mission.
Owners and managers should handle the tactics. The board should work together with the owner/CEO to determine the vision and strategy so it can be implemented in the best way possible. Boards should not get like Congress, sniffing around and getting involved in areas others are handling (and better equipped to handle).
“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” Henry Ford