I remember attending an open day at a brand new, PFI-built school around 1999. It was at the time when Blairite language and ideas were affecting many public servants. The Head Teacher, whilst trying to indicate how exclusive and shiny her new school was, told us that the regime there would “add value to your children”. This was both a puzzling and off putting assertion and, many of us felt, a bit daft. It shows, though, how this concept of adding value has entered every walk of professional life. There are two areas of organisational activity where the question “how do we add value” is particularly important to ask.

The first is the Human Resources function. Much of the value added by HR is in terms of compliance and systems. This, of course, is crucial to organisational health and functioning. What is often overlooked is the potential for strategic HR to add value by giving competitive advantage. Constructing good retention strategies will lead to a more economic and skilled workforce. A well implemented approach to sickness absence, alongside an organisational commitment to growth, can improve efficiency and maximise productivity.

Often HR Departments ask how they might add value before figuring out how they already do. We all need to be reminded of our value once in a while.

The second area where critical examination of added value is at board level - especially for non-executive boards in the voluntary sector. A great deal of effort can go into recruiting, training and servicing a board. If that effort does not result in a better organisation then it has not be well used.

The kind of unique value that Boards offer is at strategic level – offering a perspective that executives cannot have, given their day-to-day work within the organisation. Boards often back off strategic discussions, preferring to leave this to executives. If they do then they do not grasp a key opportunity to add value.

I have been working on some workshops for board members and those who work alongside them with The Centre (www.the-centre.co.uk). This will be a great opportunity for thinking about the current and potential value of boards.