Two of the most frequently selected improvement methods in the forty or so Digi-Board governance reviews I have undertaken for hospices relate to learning more about fellow Board members. These are; 

'Making time to get to know each other outside of meetings’

'Taking time to discuss how we work together, our motivations, behaviours & expectations’ 

Research shows that the more members of decision-making groups learn about each other, the more effective they become. Sharing why we got involved in hospice care is a great way to start a Board away day.

The stories I heard from trustees and executives at sessions I recently facilitated at KEMP Hospice and St Luke's Hospice Harrow & Brent reinforced this. Everyone's motivation was rooted in their own experience, but what they had in common was the commitment it inspired.

One shared an epiphany he had at the M40 Oxford services. Another reflected on how little he had really known about patients' lives during his career as a medic in acute settings.

As ever, I came away from both days reassured that, despite the challenges facing the sector, the passion so many people share will ensure hospices continue to serve their communities. And by sharing these stories, trustees and executives are better equipped to lead their hospices in doing just that.