30+ Board Evaluation Questions for Performing Better

In some recent studies made by Nasdaq, show that only 7% of boards create professional plans for their business. 

Running a board evaluation process which is effective, requires thoughtful analysis, open dialogue, and a clear focus on improving performance.

In this article, Boardroom Dialogue experts share question sets organized by category, practical guidance for conducting evaluations, and strategies to tackle common challenges boards face during each evaluation cycle.

What Makes a Board Evaluation Questionnaire Effective

A board evaluation questionnaire which is strong, uncovers the real insights about how your business board is performing. The areas that the questions should focus more, are where your board is struggling more, but also staying relevant to your organization’s goals.

The questionnaires which are truly effective, cover a wide range of topics. They use number ratings to see trends over time and open questions so directors can speak honestly.

It is important that directors feel safe being honest. They need to know their feedback will be used to help, not cause problems or hurt anyone’s feelings.

30+ Essential Board Evaluation Questionnaire Questions

1. Board Composition and Structure

These questions assess whether your board has the right mix of skills, experience, and diversity to meet current and future organizational needs.

• Does the board possess the skills and expertise required to oversee our organization’s strategy effectively?
• Are there critical skill areas absent from our current board composition?
• Does the board demonstrate appropriate diversity in perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences?
• Is the board the right size to function effectively without excess weight?
• Do we have appropriate board committee structures to handle specialized oversight areas?

2. Board Meeting Effectiveness

These questions examine how well your board meeting agenda helps strategic discussion and effective decisions.

• Are board meetings structured to allow sufficient time for strategic discussion?
• Do board meetings start and end on time with clear outcomes?
• Is the board meeting agenda distributed with adequate advance notice?
• Do meetings allow for open dialogue and constructive challenge of management proposals?
• Are action items from previous meetings tracked and followed up appropriately?

3. Board Information and Materials

Questions about board papers and information quality help identify whether directors receive what they need to make informed decisions.

• Do board materials arrive with sufficient time for thorough review before meetings?
• Are board papers concise and focused on decisions rather than information overload?
• Do board materials clearly identify what decisions or actions are required?
• Is financial and performance information presented in a clear, accessible format?
• Do we have access to the right technology and digital tools for board work?

1. Board Dynamics and Culture

These questions probe the interpersonal and cultural aspects that significantly impact board effectiveness but often go unexamined.

• Do board members feel comfortable to raise difficult questions or express different views?
• Is there a culture of mutual respect and trust among board members?
• Does the board chair facilitate discussions effectively and make sure all voices are heard?
• Are conflicts or disagreements handled well when they arise?
• Do board members come prepared and actively engage in discussions?

2. Strategic Oversight and Performance

Your board evaluation questionnaire should examine how well the board fulfills its strategic oversight role.

• Does the board actively contribute to shape organizational strategy?
• Is there clarity about the boundary between board oversight and management execution?
• Does the board adequately challenge management assumptions and proposals?
• Is the board’s focus appropriately balanced between current performance and future opportunities?
• Do we regularly discuss and monitor key strategic risks the organization faces?

3. Board Performance and Continuous Improvement

These questions assess whether your board maintains a commitment to constant development and improves board effectiveness.

• Does the board conduct regular self-assessment and act on what it finds?
• Are there clear action plans that result from previous board evaluations?
• Do board members participate in education and development opportunities that continue?
• Is there an effective process for board succession and director recruitment?
• Do we regularly refresh board composition to add new perspectives?

4. Committee Performance

If your board uses committees, your board evaluation questionnaire should include questions about how effective they are.

• Do board committees have clear charters that define their roles and responsibilities?
• Are committee meetings productive and focused on their designated areas of responsibility?
• Do committees provide effective reports and recommendations to the full board?
• Is committee membership appropriate based on director skills and experience?

How to Conduct a Board Evaluation Questionnaire

To conduct a board evaluation questionnaire which is effective, you need to have thoughtful planning.

Firstly, start by deciding if you want the evaluation to be inside the board or bring in outside help. The internal checks are great for yearly reviews and for business boards willing to reflect on their own performance.

Then, make sure all directors know how the evaluation will work. Explain how feedback will be collected, who will see it, and how results will be used to make the company’s decision more efficient. 

After these two steps, pick a method that gives the most useful feedback. Many businesses choose to stick with written surveys, because it lets people answer anonymously and track trends over time.

When you pick your most suitable survey method, create a timeline for the directors to have time to answer all the questions carefully. Many business boards often finish their questionnaire in 2-4 weeks.

(Give someone responsibility for each action and set deadlines because without accountability, the board evaluation questionnaire will not go as planned.)

Make sure to look at all the answers carefully, spot for any patterns, responses which are unusual or where everyone agrees or disagrees. If the survey is done this way, it can be ineffective to uncover the company’s struggles and ways to fix them.

When you have completed the whole questionnaire process, make sure to check back regularly during the year to see how the improvements are going, because board evaluations don’t happen only once, they need to be part of always getting better.

Challenges of Board Evaluation Questionnaire Season

Challenge	How to Overcome It
Lack of Candor in Responses – Directors hesitate to give honest feedback internally due to relationship concerns.	Use external facilitators. Independent assessment use grew 16% in the S&P 500 between 2020-2024.
Evaluation Fatigue – Year after year evaluations without visible improvements make directors view this as pointless paperwork.	Show evaluations drive real changes. Concrete improvements from past assessments encourage better future participation.
Poor Follow-Through – Gather feedback and do nothing with it, which wastes time and damages credibility.	Create specific action plans. Only 7% of boards do this – don’t be part of the 93% that just go through motions.
Insufficient Time and Resources – Rush the process or skimp on resources, which leads to superficial assessments.	Budget adequate time and consider external support. Quality evaluations pay dividends through better governance.
Defensive Reactions – Board members react defensively to feedback rather than see it as an improvement opportunity.	The board chair must set a tone that welcomes feedback and frames evaluation as growth, not criticism.
Difficulty to Measure Soft Factors – Interpersonal dynamics and culture resist easy quantification.	Include both scores and open-ended questions. Richest insights often come from qualitative responses.

Your board evaluation questionnaire should include both quantitative scores and qualitative questions that capture these harder-to-measure factors. The richest insights often come from open-ended responses rather than numeric scores.

Get Expert Evaluation Support For Your Business Board!

If you want a board evaluation questionnaire process that delivers genuine insights and drives improvements in governance effectiveness that last, work with experienced specialists makes all the difference.

Boardroom Dialogue has earned the trust of corporate boards through years of specialized review work. We have helped boards across the UK and Europe identify governance gaps, develop practical improvement plans, and implement changes that stick.

Get your free board effectiveness consultation to discuss your board’s specific situation and explore how a professional review can strengthen your governance and strategic impact.