Building a Healthier America: Truth and Transparency within the Boardroom

Can you recall a time if you were serving on a committee, task force, or board of directors and realized that you just didn’t have a transparent understanding of the subject being discussed? Albert Einstein said: The same is true once we serve on a board of directors. A key element of the board’s service is our personal responsibility to hunt and fully understand the reality. Truth allows us to advocate for positive change and outcomes that profit organizations and all they serve. To ensure you’ve gotten the context and understanding to meaningfully contribute to the forum discussion, consider asking the next questions:

5 key inquiries to capture the reality

1. How does this system theme align with, influence, or impact the organization’s mission, culture, values, and popularity?
2. What does the evidence say? What data is offered to supply management’s perspective?
3. What is the most effective possible end result for all parties involved?
4. What are the potential risks and the way can they be mitigated?
5. Has the subject already been discussed by the management? If so, what were the outcomes and lessons learned?

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Linda Flynn, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean and Professor, Rutgers School of Nursing, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey