CEO Assessment

One of the most important responsibilities of the Board of Directors is to conduct a periodic evaluation of the chief executive. Far too often, chief executives receive no feedback, little feedback, vague feedback or conflicting feedback from the Board. The annual evaluation process provides an opportunity for the Board to clearly establish its expectations for the role of the chief executive, to provide a vehicle for feedback on the President's performance over the past year, to develop a common understanding among the Board on the CEO's performance, and to lay the foundation for a joint discussion between the Board and the President about the goals for the year ahead.

While there are some core roles and responsibilities common to all chief executives, one size does not fit all when it comes to the annual assessment process. CHP&M works with boards and chief executives to design and implement assessment processes that provide useful and actionable feedback, and that fit the culture and unique needs of the organization.

From web-based assessment surveys to structured interview processes, CHP&M will design an assessment process that:

• Identifies the core areas of performance where the chief executive excels and those that need attention;
• Explores the personal leadership qualities critical to the chief executive's success;
• Assesses performance on the chief executive's annual goals, and provides a starting point for a discussion of goals for the year ahead; and
• Benchmarks the chief executive's performance so it can be tracked over time; and
• Strengthens the effectiveness of the working relationship between the board and the chief executive.

The relationship between the board and the chief executive is critical to the success of the organization - and an effective process for providing regular feedback to the chief executive is critical to the success of this relationship.