Your board makes decisions based on the best information available. You prepare in advance with a thoughtful board packet. You research industry insights. You talk to neighbors, peers, and community members to understand what’s important to them.

But what about the information you don’t have? Have you considered the cost of making decisions without all the necessary perspectives?

A common challenge in the boardroom is that conversations, questions, and decisions are often made only with the information at hand. How do you fix this?

One simple way is to ask this powerful question:

What might we be missing?

It’s easy to assume we’ve considered everything, but costly oversights often come from what we didn’t see coming. Before your board makes a final decision, take a moment to ask this question and see where the conversation leads:

• When a decision comes too easily… What might we be missing?
  
• When confusion or lack of clarity sets in… What might we be missing?
  
• When you aren’t sure what question to ask… What might we be missing?
  

Asking this question has the potential to surface fresh insights, uncover blind spots, and help your board make better, more strategic, and fully informed decisions.

Talk soon,
- Keri & Richard