We exist because governance is experienced by people.
We believe that some of the most important forces shaping governance are often the least visible.
Every day, Boards, executives and governance professionals navigate moments of judgement, challenge, trust, power, uncertainty and accountability.
These human dynamics influence how governance is experienced in practice, yet they have traditionally received far less attention than the structures, policies and frameworks designed to support them.
The Behavioural Governance Institute exists to advance understanding of these human dynamics through research, education and practice, contributing to the growing discipline of Behavioural Governance and supporting better governance outcomes.
Your Experience of Decision Making Matters
Every governance professional has experienced decision-making environments that feel different.
Some encourage curiosity, thoughtful challenge and respectful debate. Others create hesitation, uncertainty or silence. Most of us have experienced both.
These experiences are not simply personal observations.
They influence how information is shared, whether difficult issues are raised, how authority is exercised and, ultimately, the quality of organisational decision-making.
At the same time, they shape our own experience of governance.
They influence our confidence to contribute, our willingness to challenge, our sense of trust and psychological safety, and whether we leave a meeting feeling energised, frustrated or unheard.
Behavioural Governance explores the human dynamics that create these experiences and the behavioural conditions that support better governance for organisations and the people entrusted to lead them.
Behavioural Governance isn't
about controlling behaviour.
It is about creating the conditions where people speak honestly, authority is exercised with integrity, challenge is welcomed, accountability is clear, and decisions stand up to scrutiny.
Every governance professional has experienced decision-making environments that feel different.
Some encourage curiosity, thoughtful challenge and collective judgement. Others create hesitation, filtered information, unnecessary conflict or silence. Most of us have experienced both.
These experiences are not simply personal observations. T
hey influence how information is shared, how authority is exercised, whether difficult issues are raised and, ultimately, the quality of organisational decision-making.
Behavioural Governance exists to help organisations intentionally create the behavioural conditions that support better decisions, stronger governance and better experiences for the people involved.
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See what governance professionals are experiencing.
See the global picture. Then see your own.
The Annual Behavioural Governance Dynamics™ Report provides an independent global snapshot of the behavioural dynamics shaping governance and decision-making.
The Behavioural Governance Dynamics™ Assessment is always open, giving individuals, Boards and leadership teams the opportunity to assess the behavioural dynamics shaping their own decision-making environment.
Read the Book
Behavioural Governance continues to evolve through the contributions of researchers, practitioners and governance professionals around the world.
Behavioural Governance: The Human Dynamics Behind Boardroom Decision-Making is Lisa Coletta's contribution to that growing conversation, bringing together practical frameworks and lived governance experience to better understand the human dynamics shaping governance and decision-making.
Behavioural Governance Masterclasses
Behavioural Governance is an emerging discipline that grows through research, practice and the exchange of ideas.
Each month, the Behavioural Governance Institute hosts a complimentary online masterclass exploring one of the human dynamics shaping governance and decision-making.
Using practical governance scenarios, each session shares current thinking, practical insights and opportunities for reflection and discussion.
Whether you join us live or watch later, the masterclasses are designed to make Behavioural Governance accessible to anyone interested in strengthening governance through its human dimension.
The masterclasses are intentionally offered at no cost because advancing an emerging discipline depends on making ideas accessible, encouraging thoughtful dialogue and creating opportunities for practitioners to learn together.
How to Keep Power Clean
Power isn't the problem. How it is exercised is. This session examines the behavioural dynamics between Chairs, CEOs and governance professionals, helping leaders recognise when authority is strengthening governance and when it is beginning to distort it.
How to Chair a Board Without Wearing a Crown
Strong Chairs don't rely on authority alone. They create the conditions for thoughtful challenge, balanced participation and sound judgement. This session explores how a Chair's behaviour shapes the room and influences the quality of governance decisions.
How to Stand in Your Power as a Governance Steward
Governance professionals often influence outcomes without holding formal authority. This masterclass explores how to exercise influence with confidence, establish healthy boundaries and support good governance without carrying responsibilities that belong elsewhere.
How to Build Trust Through Delivery
Trust isn't built through promises. It is built through consistent behaviour over time. This masterclass explores how Boards interpret delivery under pressure, why trust can erode even when results are achieved, and the behavioural dynamics that strengthen confidence between leaders and their Boards.
Behavioural Governance 101
Build the capability to recognise and work with behavioural dynamics in practice.
Reading about Behavioural Governance is one thing. Applying it in practice is another.
Behavioural Governance 101 is the Institute's flagship learning program, designed to help Chairs, Directors, CEOs and governance professionals recognise behavioural patterns, interpret decision-making dynamics and intentionally shape healthier governance environments.
Grounded in research, practical frameworks and real governance scenarios, the program provides a structured pathway for developing capability in Behavioural Governance and applying it with confidence in practice.
Behavioural Governance Institute
Practitioner Scholarship
Investing in the Future of Behavioural Governance
The Behavioural Governance Institute is committed to making Behavioural Governance accessible to practitioners who are passionate about strengthening governance through a deeper understanding of human behaviour.
Each quarter, the Institute awards one fully funded Practitioner Scholarship to participate in Behavioural Governance 101.
The scholarship reflects our belief that advancing a discipline depends not only on research and education, but also on investing in practitioners who are committed to learning, applying and contributing to its continued development.
If you believe this opportunity is right for you, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply via Email
One scholarship is awarded each quarter. Applications are reviewed quarterly.
Be a Part of the Story
Behavioural Governance is still evolving.
Around the world, practitioners, researchers and governance professionals are exploring the role that human behaviour plays in governance and decision-making. Different perspectives, different experiences and different disciplines all have something valuable to contribute.
The Behavioural Governance Institute exists to support that conversation.
Whether you're developing research, applying behavioural governance in practice, exploring new ideas, or looking for opportunities to contribute to the discipline, we'd love to hear from you.
If you're interested in collaborating on research, contributing to thought leadership, exploring a strategic partnership, sharing practitioner insights or simply becoming part of the growing Behavioural Governance community, we invite you to connect with us.
Together, we can continue building the evidence, advancing the discipline and strengthening governance for the benefit of organisations, leaders and the communities they serve.
Let's shape the future of Behavioural Governance together.
Align'd
Stay Connected with Behavioural Governance
Align'd is the Behavioural Governance Institute's newsletter, bringing together practical insights, emerging research, practitioner reflections and updates from across the Institute.
From behavioural governance in the boardroom to new frameworks, annual research, masterclasses and practitioner insights, Align'd is where the conversation continues.
Join a growing community of directors, executives, governance professionals, researchers and practitioners helping shape the future of Behavioural Governance.