Shadow board
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Shadow boards are invaluable for organisations navigating the VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world we are living and leading in. Shadow boards, typically composed of younger colleagues, bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that can challenge the status quo and drive agility across all areas of the business, including sustainability, artificial intelligence integration, and the diversity and inclusion agenda. By involving diverse voices in strategic discussions, shadow boards help organisations stay attuned to emerging trends and the evolving needs of a dynamic market. They tackle difficult topics and share recommendations with leaders much faster than if the leaders were to address these topics on their own. Shadow boards maintain a culture of inclusivity and adaptability, enabling quicker responses to disruptions. They serve as a bridge between senior leadership and the wider organisation, enhancing communication and engagement across all levels of the organisation.
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This collaborative approach not only mitigates risks but also leverages the collective intelligence of the organisation, making it more resilient and competitive in today’s fast-paced world.
SHIFT unlimited will work with you from concept, selection, and set-up, through to the ongoing development of the shadow board, ensuring it is effectively integrated and continuously evolving to meet your organisation’s needs.
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Client Story
Global multibillion-dollar business
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Shadow boards and their potential to have a positive impact have been a topic that SHIFT unlimited has been introducing to many of their clients over the last few years. This progressive CEO was keen to add challenge and disruption at the level of strategy, and also gain visibility of high-potential talent across the organisation. They worked with SHIFT unlimited to socialise this idea at the executive level, knowing SHIFT was trusted and respected enough that the concept would at least have time to grow legs.
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The Shadow board for this organisation moved from concept to reality following full engagement with the senior leaders. A draft terms of reference for the Shadow board was created, along with a simple selection strategy that aimed to draw from all corners of the organisation’s footprint. Following selection, SHIFT unlimited spent time with the Shadow board to support them in getting established for success. They addressed rules of engagement, finalised the terms of reference, elected a chair and co-chair, and agreed on the cadence and focus of the meetings.
Now that the Shadow board is fully functioning, they meet monthly on topics assigned to them by the senior leaders, such as diversity and inclusion, sustainability, and artificial intelligence. They reverse mentor the senior leaders, resulting in a deep level of trust between the senior leaders and the Shadow board.
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As a result of the Shadow board being in place, this organisation has already started to address some of the complex challenges they had been facing for some time.
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