September 2, 2020

Five Ways Directors Can Build Brand

When board directors think about their roles in building and sustaining a brand, they usually concentrate on the company’s brand, too often ignoring their personal brands. Company brands and personal brands, however, must march in lockstep precision to guarantee growth.
August 19, 2020

Leadership Lessons From Amazon’s Board

Amazon named Indra Nooyi to their board of directors, on the heels of adding Roz Brewer. These two outstanding leaders and executives are excellent choices for Amazon. It couldn’t have taken more than two minutes to think of them as candidates.
August 4, 2020

Providing Meaningful Feedback that CEOs Can Act Upon

Boards of directors commonly ask for my assistance to address CEO performance. In most cases, it is not achievement of the company goals that is the issue, it is CEO behaviour...
July 14, 2020

The Board’s Role in CEO Selection

Historically, incumbent CEOs anointed their successors, but that all changed in the post-Sarbanes-Oxley environment that required the consideration of the entire board. Now the CEO’s job involves preparing one or two strong internal candidates—ensuring leadership continuity and the CEO’s legacy. However, selecting the right person from among internal and external candidates remains the single most critical task the board has.
July 1, 2020

Invisible Rip Tides Sink Marriages and Mergers

The business news is filled with stories of failed mergers or acquisitions. Yet companies still have an appetite for growth through mergers or acquisitions. Why?
June 4, 2020

Dynamic Board Retreats

Most boards conduct a strategy session or board retreat on an annual basis. A well planned and executed strategy session is a boon for the management team.  How do I recognize when I have participated in a great board retreat?
May 19, 2020

What’s So Funny About Board Membership?

When the Vietnam Conflict ended in 1973, 566 military prisoners of war returned from captivity in North Vietnam. Statistics from previous wars suggested this group would suffer Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. But they didn’t. In fact, they...
May 6, 2020

The Three Big Leadership Traps and How to Climb Out

Boeing and The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) do not appear to have much in common but they do; each has seriously damaged the trust they once enjoyed. Though their circumstances are different, each has succumbed to big, but invisible leadership traps that do not restore trust...
April 14, 2020

The Board’s Role in Responding to Crisis, Currently COVID-19

Whatever the industry, boards have a crucial role to play as management teams navigate this global crisis. By now, most companies are past the initial stage of reacting and have taken action too. Depending on the nature of your business, responsive actions will vary considerably.