January 18, 2022
Leaders often praise and reward heroic actions, the “dive in the dirt” moves that save the day. Sometimes speed and boldness win the day, but heroics can lure us into using ad-hoc interventions as a default instead of doing the less glamorous work that makes heroics rare and mostly unnecessary.
August 5, 2021
When we understand disruption and the people who intentionally create it, we understand how to design it instead of fearing it.
July 14, 2021
Directors are usually intelligent, successful people capable of stepping into the same decision traps as other people. Yet, some manage to make fewer mistakes than others. So, are some people more “trap resistant” than others?
March 28, 2021
A tired and untrue refrain still heard (even though often whispered) is, "There aren't enough qualified women or people of color" to serve on boards. Is that true, or does it appear that way because...
December 1, 2020
In the world of technology, we describe the crippling condition that occurs when two computer programs vie for control—a phenomenon that happens when each program waits and prevents the other from making progress—as a “deadly embrace.” A similar stalemate occurs when board members try to influence others to concede the defects in their arguments, without acknowledging the failings in their own.
October 1, 2020
All strategic decisions involve cognitive bias. The greatest risk is to those who think they are above it all. Here are the most common biases and how to spot them.
July 14, 2020
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.
June 4, 2020
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?
March 13, 2020
Businesses leaders are often sure about what they need; sometimes they are right. The best leaders have ways to check themselves and especially, their assumptions. They know that ignoring risks, even those that are vague, seem small or unlikely to cause harm, can be deadly.
