Top tips to keep your board running smoothly and protect governors' wellbeing

Wellbeing and workload issues affect governors and trustees, too. Read on for practical steps you can take to protect your board members and make sure your board is working at peak efficiency.

Last reviewed on 2 May 2025
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Contents
  1. Governor and trustee wellbeing matters
  2. Prioritise induction and training
  3. Delegate
  4. Maintain schedules
  5. Keep meetings focused and on track
  6. Download our template agenda and memorandum
  7. Be flexible
  8. Say thank you

Governor and trustee wellbeing matters

Common stressors for governors/trustees include:

  • Heavy workloads
  • Feelings of incompetence or lack of purpose
  • Time constraints
  • Competing responsibilities

And just as in any other workplace, poor mental health and wellbeing can lead to:

  • Reduced productivity
  • Increased absence from meetings
  • Social difficulties

While it's no single person's responsibility to maintain the mental health and wellbeing of your board, there are some tweaks that you as a chair, governance professional or any other board member can make to ensure that governance isn't overly burdensome.

Prioritise induction and training

If a board is to run efficiently, everyone must be confident in their role. This is the case for both new governors/trustees and more experienced ones who are tackling new responsibilities.

New governor/trustee induction and further training for experienced board members can protect your board's wellbeing by:

  • Helping governors or trustees feel confident in their roles
  • Making sure everyone is doing the best they can
  • Keeping the workload evenly balanced