LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Leadership is more than a title — it’s about impact. And as a leader, you already know that if you're not working to get better, you're sliding backward. You want the best for your Board of Directors, CEOs, superintendents, and executive teams, but the constant demands of day-to-day responsibilities can pull focus from long-term growth.
At Spark & Compass, we partner with you to strengthen leadership at every level. Our expert trainers take the time to understand your needs and customize training experiences and retreats that enhance leadership capacity, streamline decision-making, and reinforce effective governance practices.
From boardrooms to leadership retreats, we help your teams lead with confidence, clarity, and purpose—so you can realize your organization’s full vision and potential.
We design our leadership development offerings to align with our clients’needs. Common sessions include:
Board Roles & Responsibilities
Board members are the backbone of an organization’s success. We help your governance team understand their distinct roles, legal responsibilities, and best practices to build a cohesive and effective board. Our sessions provide clarity on how board members can fulfill their fiduciary, strategic, and generative roles while fostering a positive governance culture.
Recommended for: Boards that have new governance team members, including board members or Superintendent/Executive Director/CEO. Also recommended for boards seeking clarity on roles and responsibilities.
Building Board Agreements & Communication Norms
Effective boards thrive on trust, clarity, and shared expectations. Whether it’s navigating challenging discussions or staying aligned during times of change, communication among board members is essential—but it doesn’t happen by accident. This interactive workshop supports boards in developing a shared understanding of effective communication and working protocols by exploring what's worked in the past, learning from governance best practices, and addressing current needs.
Through guided discussion and reflection, your board will co-create a set of principles and communication agreements that promote transparency, accountability, and smoother decision-making. These agreements serve as a roadmap for how the board interacts—with each other, with leadership, and with the community.
Recommended for: Boards seeking to strengthen team dynamics, enhance communication, and create shared agreements that support effective and efficient governance.
Board Self-Evaluation & Continuous Improvement
Effective governance requires ongoing reflection and growth. Our board self-evaluation workshops help governance teams assess their effectiveness, ensuring they remain accountable to their mission and stakeholders. This session supports boards in using self-assessment tools, refining governance practices, and strengthening alignment with organizational goals.
Recommended for: Boards wanting to assess their effectiveness and improve their governance impact.
Policy Governance Check-up and Refresher
Even the most well-intentioned boards can drift from their governance model over time. Whether your board has experienced turnover, struggles with consistency, or simply needs a refresher on best practices, this session realigns your governance team with the core principles of Policy Governance. We reintroduce key concepts, assess current board practices, and provide strategies for effective policy implementation. This workshop ensures that new and veteran board members alike are confident in their governance roles, fostering a disciplined and mission-driven approach to leadership.
Recommended for: Boards that have been using Policy Governance but need to reinforce or realign their practices.
Designing a Governance Calendar
A well-planned governance calendar keeps your board proactive rather than reactive. We work with your board to develop an annual roadmap that structures meetings, policy reviews, and strategic discussions, ensuring critical topics are addressed in a timely and organized manner. This session helps governance teams focus on what matters most by aligning meeting agendas with strategic goals and board responsibilities throughout the year.
Recommended for: Boards seeking to structure their annual work, stay focused on strategic priorities, and ensure consistent monitoring of key responsibilities such as policy reviews, superintendent evaluation, and community engagement.
Healthy Governance Package
Strong governance is the foundation of a thriving organization. Our Healthy Governance Package provides your board and superintendent with the structure, support, and strategic alignment needed to lead effectively. This comprehensive package includes two tailored board retreats each year, ensuring your governance team (board and superintendent) stays focused, collaborative, and aligned on priorities. Additionally, your superintendent and leadership team will benefit from an annual retreat designed to strengthen leadership capacity and strategic execution. To provide ongoing support, both the board president and superintendent receive up to an hour each of personalized coaching time monthly, offering expert guidance to navigate challenges, enhance decision-making, and drive organizational success. With this package, your governance team will develop the clarity, cohesion, and confidence needed to lead with purpose.
Recommended for: Boards and leadership teams looking to maximize their governance support and leadership development by proactively planning an annual approach to its professional development.
