3.5 years #3

Good Governance and viability

It’s well worth the extra effort. Get it in place, and get it working first.

My habit is to act first and be concerned about Governance after. I trust myself. It doesn't help that my last two roles have had very little in the way of structured governance. In the last few months though, the appointment of a regional community bod by Oasis has played a big role in setting up good governance and accountability, and has helped take us a huge way further, including to the point of having the conversations we’re now having, something I've not been able to effect previously. Prior to this, we haven’t had any effective Governance, and I think it’s cost us.

Much as it can feel onerous, it makes a huge difference to actually getting where we want, and understanding whether you have and when to change direction. It moves decision making away from being one person’s decisions, involves others in a much more meaningful way, and greatly increases the wisdom, aptitudes and skills we have to work with. Engagement, accountability, oversight, support, encouragement, ownership, are worth some extra paperwork. Do it first, do it well, do it with the right people.

Viability

Governance is also essential in keeping an understanding of viability. When starting anything new I always do some work to establish how viable it seems, and only if it tips the balance take it on. I keep a track on many of our projects that way too, although the structure of governance would make it easier. What we haven’t done is kept out eye on future viability for the whole project, which would have enabled us to steer, ask hard questions and make adjusting decisions and be aware of where we each are, in a way we simply haven’t. Good governance with good people, asking good questions makes all the difference.

#4 Invest in very few things