The Savvy Director Blog

Board diversity only delivers value when every director feels comfortable contributing. This article explains the causes of silence in the boardroom and offers ways to encourage participation and strengthen engagement.

Does it sometimes feel as though you hear from the same few directors at every board meeting? What about all the others? Why do they stay silent? And more importantly, what can be done about it?

These days, many boards are consciously pursuing more diversity around the board...

Kindness in the boardroom isn't about avoiding conflict, it’s about acting in the best interests of others, even when difficult truths must be shared. This article highlights how directors can balance empathy with accountability.

Does kindness have a place in the boardroom?

Lately I’ve read a few interesting articles about the value of being kind vs. being nice. It got me thinking about how this distinction applies to a board of directors.

The Savvy Director understands that being effective...

Board dysfunction is rarely just about structure. It’s about how directors behave and interact. This post offers actionable ways to strengthen board culture, resolve conflict, and elevate team performance.

If you find your board work a less than enjoyable experience, and board meetings boring and frustrating, maybe you’re part of a dysfunctional board.

When it comes to a board of directors, dysfunction tends to arise from two broad areas – process and people. You’re probably not surprised t...

This blog explores what 'fit' really means in the boardroom. It explains how boards must balance cultural alignment with the need for diverse perspectives and constructive challenge.

Recently, I worked with a board of directors to prepare a list of potential interview questions for prospective board members. The questions were carefully selected to try to uncover candidates’ ‘Three C’s’ – competence, character, and chemistry.

The first two C’s are fairly obvious. Competence questions focus o...

Effective boards don’t use a one-size-fits-all approach to working with management. This article explains how different engagement modes, ranging from passive to control, help boards balance oversight with empowerment.

When the Board-CEO partnership thrives, so does the entire organization. But when it falters, the repercussions can be swift and severe.

In today's complex and rapidly changing world, boards face the challenging task of providing proper oversight while allowing management the ...

Board work can be frustrating—but how you respond matters more than what others do. This article shows how developing patience improves listening, decision-making, and relationships 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...

This blog explains how directors can challenge management without damaging relationships. It shows how constructive challenge improves decision-making with thoughtful questioning, collaboration, and respect.

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 ...

The working dynamics between board directors, and how they collaborate when making key decisions, is a topic of endless curiosity for me. How do directors strike the right balance between constructive dissent and getting along?

Should directors be a team or behave more like a team? And what can we, as directors, learn from high-performing sports teams?

No matter how many superstars are at the board table, a key driver of success is the ability to build strong working relationships between d...

This blog explores advanced aspects of boardroom influence, including rebuilding trust, navigating virtual meetings, and ethical boundaries. It shows how influence depends on credibility and integrity.

What should you do when trust has been damaged between you and other board members? Is there a way to recover? Are there differences in how men and women cultivate influence? What adjustments are needed if the board meeting is virtual? And what ethical considerations crop up when it comes to in...

This blog explores how directors can build influence in the boardroom through trust, communication, and relationship-building. It shows why influence matters more than formal authority.

Having influence in the boardroom gives you the ability to change hearts, minds, and behavior. It’s about using your words to share an idea or to move other people toward a position that you support. Make no mistake, being able to influence people is a difficult challenge that all leaders face.

And, as a memb...