The Savvy Director Blog

Board decisions are often made with imperfect information. This article highlights how asking clarifying questions leads to better outcomes.

Many of the problems that boards are faced with involve decision making under uncertainty. Rarely do we have the kind of perfect information that would allow us to predict with complete confidence what the outcome of our decision will be. Most of the time, it’s impossible to know that the facts we’re relying on are 100% certain.

To help decision makers ...

This blog explores how “why” questions can feel confrontational in the boardroom. It shows how reframing questions improves dialogue and relationships.

Is asking “why?” a good question for the boardroom?

A "why" question can work well during a board meeting because it can help clarify the reasoning behind decisions or actions that the organization has taken. A "why" question can also help uncover potential issues or challenges that may need to be addressed. However, it’s important to frame a...

Sustainable success depends on asking the right questions. This article shows how boards can drive innovation and strategy through inquiry.

Whether your board serves a non-profit that competes for funding or a business that competes for market share, having a sustainable competitive advantage continues to be the holy grail.

Your competitive advantage is what you do better than anyone else. If you’re lucky, you could have more than one such advantage. The ‘sustainable’ part of the phrase refe...

Even good questions can create resistance if asked poorly. This article shows how to reduce defensiveness and improve boardroom communication.

Ever heard that one before? 

Thankfully it happens much less these days.  But it took an experienced director to pull me aside after a board meeting one time to help see the light. 

Body language, tone of voice, choosing your words with care, and simply waiting for the right time to jump into the discussion have all made a huge difference in my abili...

^{Image from Breakfast with Larry}

Great boardroom questions don’t need to be complex. This post explores how simple, well-timed questions can drive better conversations.

Have you ever wondered what the late talk show host Larry King would have been like as a board director?

Let’s say the board was questioning the CEO, and that Larry had actually prepped for the board meeting. What kind of questions would he have asked?

Given that one of Larry’s favorite questions for authors was “Why the boo...