Skills Required for Board of Trustees and Executive

These are guides both for those seeking election or considering the nomination of a candidate for election to the Board of Trustees, and those expressing willingness to serve on the Executive.

It should be noted that Croquet England regards all positions on the Board, the Executive and its working committees as important.

The main difference is that the Board is focused on establishing the appropriate achievable goals and monitoring the outcomes whereas the functional committees must focus on getting things done.

Getting the right people into the right jobs is a very important part of Croquet England's structure.

Board of Trustees

Role

The role of the Board is to direct Croquet England's activity through strategy, policy and scrutiny. It will not run croquet on a day-to-day basis. Its particular responsibilities will be:

Establishing policy goals
Initiating strategic initiatives
Scrutinising the work of the Executive
Ensuring that good governance practices are in place at all levels of the Organisation.

Skills

The qualities of a strong candidate for the Board of Trustees would include many of the following:

Strategic Vision - an ability to identify key long-term goals and delivery mechanisms
A commitment to improving the transparency of the structure of Croquet England
An ability to establish priorities and assess the best use of monetary and human resources
Good leadership skills
Openness to new ideas
Good communication and listening skills
An ability to identify and implement good practice
An ability to engage effectively with the membership
An experience of problem analysis in a complex organisation
Integrity - understanding and fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of a trustee

More specific skills and competencies which the Board seeks from its trustees collectively are grouped in the following areas with more detail available for each:

Strategy
Policy Development
Financial Performance
Risk and compliance oversight
Safeguarding
Governance including Sport Governance
Executive management
HR Management
Legal
IT
Marketing
Stakeholder Engagement
Leadership
Commitment
Interpersonal and Team Skills
Critical Thinking

Time Commitment

Attendance at several (probably around eight) meetings per year, mostly online on weekday evenings or Saturday mornings, but one in person in London.
Willingness to engage in electronic communication using a Croquet England email account, as required, to develop objectives.

Executive

Role

The Executive will be charged with running croquet in accordance with the policies established by the Board of Trustees. It will not be obliged to seek further approval from the Board but it will be accountable to the Board for its compliance with Croquet England policy. The Board appoints its members. To avoid overload and conflicts of interest, it is expected that the membership of the two bodies will be largely distinct. The Chairman of the Board will also serve as a member of the Executive.

Skills

The qualities of an ideal member of the Executive and its committees will vary depending upon the assignment but many of the following will be ideal:

For the Executive: good experience at senior line management level.
For functional committees: a good working knowledge of the activities related to that particular responsibility.
A proven ability to get things done.
An ability to establish priorities.
An ability to prepare and manage budgets.
Experience of working on a committee and being a team player.
A good understanding of the role of Croquet England
A commitment to communicate with the subscribers and, most importantly, to respond to their enquiries.

Time Commitment

This will vary though typically most committees meet face-to-face once a year during the winter months and at other times via Microsoft Teams. Much work is also done by email.
The Executive will meet up to 10 times per annum via Microsoft Teams.