The importance of having the right page

“I feel like we just aren’t on the same page.”

This is a common complaint I hear from CEO’s about boards and even from some board members–referring to both staff and fellow members.  You may have heard it yourself, or perhaps you’ve even said it after a particularly ineffective meeting.

The first thing I ask when I hear this remark is always this:  What’s the page?

What page is everyone supposed to be on? Many times, there is no page!

Finding “the page” is not an individual responsibility. It’s not up to the CEO, the board chair, a marketing manager or a consultant to create the page. It is always a team effort.  The page is created by many and belongs to the board as a collective group! The page is the guide as the organization moves forward.

So, what page should we be on?

Typically, ‘The Page’ is the organization’s case for support.  I’ve written about case statements in the past and have included a helpful list of guidelines. Using the Case for Support as your ‘same page’ is extremely useful when discussions in the boardroom seem to be unfocused.

Your page might instead be the board adopted long-term strategic goals.  Keeping these goals in front of both board and staff regularly will help guide discussions toward your agreed upon future.

Whatever you choose as your ‘page’, the case statement or long-term strategic goals, it is much easier to get everyone on the same page if it is clear what that page is! Keep your page front and center so you’ll know where you’re going and will reap the results when you arrive.