Confidence in board knowledge and experience remains a top priority for board members. In fact, BoardClic users consistently rank it among the top three most critical questions in our board evaluation question bank. Over the past three years, agreement levels have remained stable at around 96%.

When it comes to diversity, 86% of board members agree that their board has enough diversity to ensure good debate and decision-making. However, 12% either disagree or remain neutral, highlighting a persistent minority with concerns. While disagreement has declined slightly over the past three years, uncertainty about board diversity remains. Even a small gap in perceived diversity can translate into blind spots in governance.

While confidence in board expertise is high, perspectives on diversity are more varied. Does this suggest a need for deeper discussions on what meaningful diversity looks like in the boardroom?

What the data reveals – and why it matters

While board members remain confident in their expertise, a small but persistent 3% express uncertainty, selecting “neutral” when asked about their board’s ability to support strategy. This suggests that some boards may lack full visibility into whether they truly have the right mix of competencies to navigate future challenges.

A similar pattern emerges in the diversity data. While most board members feel their board has sufficient diversity, a persistent minority remains uncertain or dissatisfied, highlighting ongoing concerns about representation and varied perspectives in decision-making.

Recent research highlights that diversity enhances collective intelligence and strengthens decision-making. Yet, many boards overestimate their own diversity while underestimating the risks of homogeneity. Studies show that diverse boards are better at problem-solving, but experience-driven selection can unintentionally favour like-minded backgrounds and experiences. Without a structured evaluation, boards risk overlooking critical perspectives that could improve strategic oversight and governance.

The risk of self-assessment without structure

Diversity is often assessed subjectively, unlike financial oversight or governance effectiveness, which rely on clear metrics. A recurring question in BoardClic’s evaluations highlights this issue: 'There is enough diversity of backgrounds represented on the board to ensure good debate and decision-making.' The fact that a significant portion of board members hesitate to give a definitive answer suggests ongoing uncertainty about whether their board is truly diverse enough to foster well-rounded discussions.

Without a clear, fact-based framework, board members may default to subjective experiences rather than an objective evaluation of how diversity – or the lack of it – affects boardroom decision-making.

Why a structured evaluation of board composition is critical

Diversity in the boardroom isn’t just about representation – it’s about enhancing governance and decision-making. The UK Corporate Governance Code highlights the importance of a balanced board composition, recommending that companies disclose a board skills matrix to outline the mix of skills and experiences present – or missing. The Australian Institute of Company Directors and the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) also advocate for structured assessments, emphasising that diversity across gender, age, nationality and race strengthens board decision-making.

By using a structured, data-driven mapping of skills and competencies, boards gain a clearer, objective picture of their composition. Instead of relying on individual perception, they can ensure that the right expertise and diverse perspectives are truly in place. Boards that integrate this approach into their performance reviews can proactively align their composition with current and future business demands.

From perception to reality – introducing BoardClic’s Skills Matrix

To bridge the gap between perception and reality, BoardClic is launching Skills Matrix – a data-driven tool that helps boards evaluate composition, diversity, and future readiness with clarity.

If your board relies on spreadsheets, gut feel or lacks a clear, objective understanding of its strengths, gaps and future needs – particularly when it comes to skills and composition – we strongly recommend exploring BoardClic’s Skills Matrix. Click here to learn more or talk to one of our experts today.

About this research

Our data is extracted from nearly 2,000 board reviews conducted on the BoardClic platform. The platform includes feedback from 7,000 chairs and board members across 600 organisations in 50 countries worldwide.

This specific dataset, which focuses on board expertise and diversity, is drawn from board performance reviews conducted on the platform between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024. It reflects the opinions and attitudes of chairs and board members across Europe. In total, 4,144 individuals responded to the question about board knowledge and experience, and 1,818 individuals responded to the question about diversity.