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The Savvy Director Blog

Welcome to The Savvy Director™ blog, a place to engage on board governance topics as you travel the path to being a savvy director. 

If you're interested in upping your game at the board table, no matter the size of your board or the type of organization you serve, subscribe below to receive a weekly link right in your email inbox.

Patience in the Boardroom

“Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.” – Guy Kawasaki, American marketing specialist

When we asked our Savvy Director readers, “What boardroom skills do you want to have help with?” a number of you responded with variations on the themes of how to exercise more patience, how to be more tolerant, and – to be brutally direct – how not to get frustrated with other directors.

I get it. Sometimes, after an unsatisfying board meeting, I’ve thought to myself, “Board work would be ...

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Six Habits Revisited

Whenever we write a Savvy Director blog — or create any other DirectorPrep content for that matter — we make a critical assumption about our readers.

We assume that you want to be the best director you can be, that you want to be seen as a valuable member of your board, and you want to be able to influence board decisions.

In other words, you want to be savvy, as in Savvy Director.

In our view, being a savvy director is all about what you know, and how you think, communicate, and behave in...

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Give Better Advice

ask great questions Mar 09, 2025

 

There are times when your CEO or Executive Director may approach the board with a specific request for direction on what to do about a high-risk situation.

When time is of the essence, a director’s view may be required immediately for input to the board’s discussion so that a consensus can be reached quickly, and direction given. Or your CEO may be looking for validation of their pending decision. In that case, your job is to act as a sounding board to help ensure nothing has been missed.

...
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The Director's Role in External Audit

 

If you’ve served on a board for a year or more, you’ve probably lived through an external audit. It’s one of those governance fundamentals that you need to have a handle on to fulfill your director responsibilities.

Failing to exercise proper oversight over external audit has caused a lot of grief for boards in the past. You can help make sure your board doesn’t become one of them.

In a nutshell, an external audit involves an independent auditor reviewing an organization's financial statem...

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Speak Up and Get Results

demonstrate courage Feb 23, 2025

Within the global discussion about the need for more diversity in the boardroom, the higher-level goal of maximizing diversity of perspective seems to get lost in the mix of what’s truly important when key decisions are being made.

On their own, completing a compliance checklist or creating a complicated matrix of gender, race, age, orientation, faith, and social status won’t result in better decisions. Creating the conditions for all directors, of all backgrounds, to feel comfortable expres...

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Navigating Disruption Risk

prepare for meetings Feb 16, 2025

Disruption risk is the potential for unexpected events that can interrupt or significantly alter an organization’s operations, market position, or strategic direction.

Disruptions can be caused by factors such as technological advancements, market shifts, regulatory changes, natural disasters, or other unforeseen events. The potential impact ranges from minor operational hiccups to significant threats to sheer survival.

Such is the case with tariffs.

In today's complex global economy, board...

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Soak Time on the Board

think independently Feb 09, 2025

“That’s a big decision. I’m going to sleep on it.”

What kinds of decisions require additional time to consider?

  • Maybe someone has made you a job offer - but it feels like it might not be the right move.
  • Or let’s say you are a CEO who needs to decide between two outstanding candidates for the CFO position. Both are great, but for different reasons.
  • Is it time for a new vehicle? Maybe it would be best to lease for the next three years. You’re thinking about going electric but you’re just n
  • ...
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Authenticity for Board Directors

Authenticity is a popular word among business leaders these days. Managers are advised to bring their full selves to the office, to engage in frank conversations, and to tell personal stories as a way of building trust and improving group performance. It’s a powerful way to lead with purpose and integrity.

That got me thinking about how authentic leadership might apply in the boardroom. Can board directors adopt an authentic leadership style in the boardroom? And even if they can, should they...

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Navigating Our VUCA World

prepare for meetings Jan 26, 2025
This article is the second of two dealing with our VUCA world and how the board of directors can help their organizations to navigate its challenges. Click here for our first article - Living in a VUCA World.
 
Like it or not, we find ourselves living in a VUCA world - one characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Our environment is changing rapidly and in unexpected ways. It can be hard to discern the best path forward in the face of this shifting reality.
 
In ...
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Constructive Challenge in the Boardroom

One of our duties as board directors is to challenge management. Some directors find it hard to challenge because they don’t want to offend. Others are eager to challenge but end up leaving resentment and hard feelings behind.

How can we find a balance so we can fulfill our duty and yet still maintain a positive relationship with management?

The answer is constructive challenge — the practice of asking questions in board and committee meetings with the purpose of providing scrutiny, putting ...

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