How mission-driven boards can evaluate themselves (and improve)

Board self-assessment is one of the most effective, and often overlooked, tools for strengthening governance. In this episode of Leading with Purpose, governance experts Barbara Paxton of BoardStrong and Steve Schroeder, former school board member and governance leader, explore how mission-driven boards can turn self-evaluation from a box-ticking exercise into a catalyst for continuous improvement.They discuss why many boards struggle with self-assessment, the key areas boards should evaluate, and practical ways to gather honest feedback, build trust, and turn insights into meaningful action. They also share how regular self-evaluation can strengthen board engagement, accountability and mission impact. Be sure to listen to the end of the episode, where Barbara and Steve share their top advice for boards looking to get started and build a stronger culture of continuous improvement.Further resources on board self-assessmentSelf-assessments for transformative public school boardsA checklist for volunteer board self-evaluations