Board Dynamics and Successful Board Meetings

Once elected to a board, directors must learn to work together as peers and as part of a team that operates largely by consensus. Like any small group, boards may confront issues such as groupthink, diffusion of responsibility, and pressure to maintain relationships. Board members also must figure out how to navigate the balancing act of “noses in, fingers out” by staying engaged and informed without overstepping into management’s role. The best performing boards, often through the effective leadership of the board chair or lead independent director, are able to overcome these dynamics and build cultures of trust, transparency, and collaboration that foster open debate and an ability to ask tough questions. Much of the work to cultivate a healthy board culture is done at the organizational level, but there are individual competencies and practices that directors can strengthen and implement to improve the dynamics and performance of the board. This session will provide practical advice on how directors can help to make the board work more effectively as a team to anticipate and mitigate risks and capture the valuable expertise and perspectives of all members.