How does "The BoardRoom" process work?

The "BoardRoom Process” is based on an American management development concept. It is for Managing Directors who want to continue learning about the things they admit not to know enough about.

It is for people who would like to improve the “other skills”, the skills not honed during their earlier years when they received specialised training. 

We at the BoardRoom get together on a monthly basis. We have businesses with sales ranging from 5 - 200 Million. Small businesses as you see. We sacrifice a day in order to "sharpen our saw" (Stephen Covey's analogy). 

Our motto is:

“The fool learns from his own mistakes - the wise man learns from others”.                                     

The business environment has changed so much over the last 24 months. Yet most Managing Directors have not changed their views, their approach or their technique. Some do not know how to - or they are just too busy! How often have we heard that? 

When was the last time they learnt anything new?   

When was the last time he/she was in fact challenged? Who dared to challenge him?

Time is the most critical resource of all these busy people. However they feel that with a sharp saw, they can hack away at that jungle more effectively, cutting down more trees with less effort, getting more done in the same time available. Is that not what we are after? (Again the Covey analogy)

The BoardRoom process is meant to make the participant think. Make him think about the things he does not normally think about. It challenges him to think beyond today's problems about the things that he is going to face next week, next months or even next year. 

The BoardRoom is meant to make him "Pro-Active" allowing him to anticipate the problems beforehand and not just to react to them. 

The process breaks down into two segments, namely:

The "How To - Session" on subjects that the members choose and the "Issue Session", where members help each other while learning from each other.

The "How To - Session is an “Interactive Chat", not some high powered presentation. The "audience" is going to be participative. They will feel comfortable asking questions that they would never ask during a “public presentation”. Our presenters are all comfortable with that.

The Issue Session - Peer Counseling at it’s best. "It's lonely at the top" - Even if you have a partner. It sometimes is a great relief to share your thoughts and views with an outsider whom you have learnt to trust. Who will give you his unbiased view just because you asked for it. It is a "give and take" process. Today you give advice, tomorrow you receive. On the other hand - nobody can ever give advice without learning himself. This is done during one part of the afternoon session - The Issue Session.  

The process is not for everybody. It needs an open mind, a secure personality who can take criticism, who wants to learn from others - rather than from his own mistakes. Believe me its cheaper and less painful. But of course there are some business people who know it all and don't make mistakes, nobody can teach them anything. They would find the day wasted.

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