A High-Performing Board
This article is part of our Mentor-Coach Reading List series. Join the mailing list to receive this and more.
SETTING THE SCENE
A high-performing board is a function of good governance with the capability to lead through the future changes and current challenges of the external environment, guided by a skilled Chair and CEO, with competent people who know what they are doing and a clear organisational purpose. These are the underlying messages of the six books chosen.
“High-performance is the aspiration of many boards – but what does this actually mean? Certain characteristics are evident such as the calibre of the people around the table, the energy levels, a focus on what matters, a lack of complacency, constructive and robust discussions; issues being approached with intellectual rigour and emotional insight, the searching out of better practice, the evaluation of risk and a collective accountability.” Keep reading Dianne’s article >>
Happy Reading and stay curious!
Here is more information about this selection of books.
High Performance Boards: Improving and Energizing your Governance (Wiley, April 2020) by Didier Crossin, a professor at IMD, Switzerland and the founder and director of the IMD Global Board Center. He is the originator of the Four Pillars of Board Effectiveness methodology and an advocate of stewardship. Drawn from 20 years of practice and confidential work with boards across the world, this book: demonstrates how high-performance boards innovate and refine their practices; discusses examples of board failures and challenges, including case studies from both for-profit and non-profit organisations including international organisations and state-owned agencies or even ministries; provides a proven framework to create best-in-class governance and Includes a companion website featuring tools for board assessment and board practice.
Maximizing Board Effectiveness: A Practical Guide for Effective Governance (Tenth Power Publishing, February 2021) by James Galvin. Far too many boards are ineffective. Far too many board members are confused about their role. This book changes the conversation on governance and clarifies the confusion by looking at three types: managing, governing, and navigating. Galvin addresses typical board dysfunctions and shares best practices that any board can put into practice immediately to maximize their effectiveness—now and in the future. The book helps determine what type of board you are and what type you want to become; helps your board be more effective, no matter what type of board you have and regardless of your position; looks at how to address and eliminate board dysfunction.
The Great Chair: A Window on Effective Board Leadership (FriesenPress, August 2020) by Brian Hayward. Board chairs are more important than ever for effective governance. This book tackles board leadership fundamentals, such as: how effective board chairs engage colleagues to reach consensus, how effective chairs lead the board so the board, in turn, fosters organisational effectiveness, the trick to ensuring a focus on the highest priorities; and—critically—how to build and sustain trust with the CEO and within the board.
Deep Purpose: The Heart and Soul of High-Performance Companies (Penguin, February 2022) by Ranjay Gulati is a Harvard Business School professor and Harvard MacArthur Fellow. He has been named by The Economist and the Financial Times as a business scholar whose work is most relevant to management practice. By fusing commercial and social logic, business leaders can enhance financial performance, boost employee morale and retention, and leave a positive mark on society. An intelligent and practical guide for boards and organisations in finding true corporate purpose, creating social value and boosting profit.
Disaster in the Boardroom: Six Dysfunctions Everyone Should Understand (Palgrave Macmillan, February 2022) by Gerry Brown and Dr. Randall S. Peterson. Shows how boards can be better. Looking at why scandals happen, Peterson and Brown present in-depth case studies of major global corporations, using the optic of ‘six dysfunctions of the board’ analysis to reveal what could have been done differently and how to improve board governance and behaviours.
Stewards of the Future: A Guide for Competent Boards (Barlow Books, January 2022) by Helle Bank Jorgensen. This book argues that for long-term profits and sustainability, boards need to not only define the purpose of their company in society but have the insight to ask the right questions of management on complex issues such as climate change, ESG, corruption, cybersecurity, human trafficking, supply-chain resilience, and much more. With insightful contributions from over one hundred world leaders as well as relevant international case studies, this book provides board members and executives with a practical guide to mitigate the risks and seize the opportunities.
… AND HERE ARE A FEW RELEVANT ARTICLES TO EXPLORE
Discover the support we offer executives, new and aspiring directors. About Dianne Jacobs | Discover how to get On Boards or Next Level | Join the Mailing List