How high-performing boards approach board development

Today’s directors are navigating a perfect storm. Climate change, AI, shifting stakeholder expectations, and global instability have forced companies to reassess what effective governance looks like. But are boards ready?

The evidence suggests not. Board Intelligence’s Board Value Index has found that 46% of directors believe their board isn't adding enough value. Even more tellingly, this research also found that just 31% feel confident making well-informed decisions — and that drops to 25% on topics like sustainability and technology risk.

The question is no longer whether board development matters. It’s how quickly boards can build the resilience and expertise they need to keep pace.

Directors are operating in an environment that’s more complex and volatile than ever. Global megatrends like digital disruption, climate risk, and supply chain instability are reshaping the business landscape — and boards can’t afford to wait until the next board meeting to catch up or recruit their way out of a crisis.

Here’s what’s changing:

• Digital disruption and AI: Boards are under pressure to embrace AI and digital transformation, but many directors feel underprepared. A Deloitte survey published in early 2025 found that two thirds of board members and executives report limited to no AI knowledge and experience.
• Sustainability and ESG: Environmental and social risks are moving up the board agenda, but knowledge gaps persist. Failing to engage with these issues not only jeopardises strategic decision-making but also exposes directors to D&O liability.
• Geopolitical complexity: From tariffs to war and unrest, geopolitical risks are shifting rapidly. Directors need the insight and confidence to respond, but few are trained to navigate these dynamics effectively.

This shift is being compounded by internal change too. Boards are more diverse, and the traditional profile of the retired CEO is giving way to a broader mix of experience, expectations, and career stages. Increasingly, directors expect access to structured learning as part of the role.

The appetite for board development is growing, but not all training is created equal. High-performing boards are selective in how they approach upskilling and are increasingly focused on embedding a culture of continuous improvement to improve board effectiveness.

So, what sets them apart?

In leading organisations, development isn’t a tick-box exercise. It’s a core part of governance. These boards don’t rely solely on external recruitment to fill gaps. They assess their current capabilities and invest in developing both collective and individual expertise.

They also recognise that different challenges require different approaches. From onboarding new directors to deep dives on critical risks, upskilling is viewed as a multi-year journey that evolves with the business.

Effective programmes don’t just deliver information; they build decision-making muscle. That’s why the most effective boards invest in:

• Comprehensive onboarding: Ensuring new directors hit the ground running, with a clear understanding of their fiduciary duties, context, and risk landscape as well as the organisation’s strategy and sources of competitive advantage.
• Ongoing, embedded education: Regular, high-quality sessions, briefings, and workshops on emerging issues like cybersecurity, AI, and regulatory change.
• Scenario planning and simulations: Giving directors space to practise making high-stakes decisions under pressure.
• Regular board reviews: Identifying individual learning needs as part of a board evaluation process that assesses both director and board performance.

Being a director can be a lonely role. The best boards create safe spaces for peer learning and reflection — whether through mentoring, structured forums, or trusted networks. Community matters. It helps directors gain confidence, sharpen their thinking, and apply learnings more effectively. 

Taken together, these methods — rigorous onboarding, continuous education, simulations, peer networks, and mentoring — represent a more proactive and innovative approach to board development.

If you’re wondering whether the investment in structured board development is worth it, consider the alternative.

Without shared understanding or the right foundational knowledge, board meetings risk becoming unproductive and reactive. Without a global, up-to-date perspective, board members may not be able to see the interconnected nature of certain issues or spot challenges or opportunities on the horizon.

Directors hesitate to ask the difficult questions or defer decisions because they don’t have the insight and confidence to make difficult choices.

And as the Board Value Index shows, this lack of insight is translating into a lack of confidence. Most directors don’t feel equipped to make well-informed calls on the biggest issues facing their organisations today. That has consequences — for performance, for compliance, and for long-term value creation.

When boards and individual directors invest in development, the benefits are tangible. Directors make more confident, forward-thinking decisions. They ask the right questions at the right time, allowing them to spot opportunities earlier and manage risk more effectively. And they build their reputation, ensuring they’re seen as the best in their field.

It’s not just good governance, it’s good business.

That’s why 98% of those who’ve participated in our programs believe they are better equipped for their board roles, and 55% say their credentials have helped them get a new board seat or committee appointment.

Development isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity for effective governance and future-fit leadership. At Board Intelligence, we help boards build the knowledge, confidence, and capabilities they need to lead in today’s complex world.

Through our partnership with Competent Boards, we offer a suite of tailored board development solutions — whether you’re an individual director looking to sharpen your expertise, or a board looking to upskill collectively:

• Membership plans: Structured programmes for individual directors, leadership teams, and full boards.
• Custom development: Tailored solutions based on your specific challenges, industry, and risk profile.

These solutions are grounded in a belief that high-quality development must offer:

• A global perspective to ensure directors are scanning the broadest possible horizon for insight.
• Access to an engaged community and trusted peer network for shared learning and support.
• Time for reflection to help learnings stick.
• Fresh, timely, and relevant content that’s aligned with what matters at board level and reflective of what’s happening tomorrow, not what happened three years ago.

Explore our board development solutions, learn more about the programs we offer, or speak to a member of our team to find out more.