Strong board governance is critical to organizational success. This blog post explores the 7 most common governance models used by boards worldwide, including the advisory board, cooperative, management team, policy, traditional, and hybrid models. Each model defines different roles, responsibilities, and levels of authority for board members and management
For example, the policy governance model—popularized by John Carver—focuses on separating strategic oversight from daily operations, whereas the cooperative model emphasizes shared authority and consensus decision-making. The management team model involves board members actively running operations, which can be suitable for startups or smaller organizations with limited staff. Choosing the right model depends on an organization’s size, sector, resources, and goals
The post also outlines best practices for improving board effectiveness—such as adopting clear reporting lines, setting performance expectations, and using tools like MyHub’s intranet to manage board communications, documentation, and workflows securely. Ultimately, the right governance model should promote clarity, accountability, and alignment between the board and executive leadership.