After being in hundreds of board meetings, I've learned:
World-class board members are worth their weight in gold.
Here's how the greatest board members set themselves apart.
🧵
World-class board members are worth their weight in gold.
Here's how the greatest board members set themselves apart.
🧵
** They sprint to problems
When a company stumbles, great board members jump in right away.
“We have a problem, you say? Let’s get on the phone today and do some work!”
Average board members let problems get solved -- sooner or later.
When a company stumbles, great board members jump in right away.
“We have a problem, you say? Let’s get on the phone today and do some work!”
Average board members let problems get solved -- sooner or later.
** Great board members let the CEO be the CEO.
This means remembering who is running and doing things.
Average board members will meddle or think it's about them.
Great board members know they win when the team on the field wins.
Not them.
This means remembering who is running and doing things.
Average board members will meddle or think it's about them.
Great board members know they win when the team on the field wins.
Not them.
** Great board members give a shit.
They think about the business in the shower.
They look for ways to help.
They do the work to add value.
Average board members? Well, they come to the meetings.
They think about the business in the shower.
They look for ways to help.
They do the work to add value.
Average board members? Well, they come to the meetings.
** They have difficult conversations
Great board members will say the hard things.
Maybe the CEO needs to step up their game.
Or a trophy investment is a dog.
The board must speak truth to power because the employees usually won’t.
Great board members will say the hard things.
Maybe the CEO needs to step up their game.
Or a trophy investment is a dog.
The board must speak truth to power because the employees usually won’t.
** They read the room
Being on a board is the practice of social dynamics.
Great board members listen closely to each person.
They want to see what makes them tick and their perspective.
They use that to craft moves to perfectly keep everyone on target.
Being on a board is the practice of social dynamics.
Great board members listen closely to each person.
They want to see what makes them tick and their perspective.
They use that to craft moves to perfectly keep everyone on target.
** They have a “beginner’s mind” that is constantly curious.
While they have strong beliefs, they are always listening to modify them.
Average board members have their minds made up.
The great ones are growing – no matter their age.
While they have strong beliefs, they are always listening to modify them.
Average board members have their minds made up.
The great ones are growing – no matter their age.
** They know principles are forever, tactics constantly change
Board members advise on both.
It’s their job.
Great ones know that principles are forever (ex. “Delight your customers!”)
But that tactics change ("Cold calls work!")
They advise with that in mind.
Board members advise on both.
It’s their job.
Great ones know that principles are forever (ex. “Delight your customers!”)
But that tactics change ("Cold calls work!")
They advise with that in mind.
** They build trust
Great board members get to know everyone as humans.
Not as fellow professionals – as real people!
This means spending face time with others to build a real bond.
So, when the shit hits the fan, they have mutual trust they can rely upon.
Great board members get to know everyone as humans.
Not as fellow professionals – as real people!
This means spending face time with others to build a real bond.
So, when the shit hits the fan, they have mutual trust they can rely upon.
** They work to have skin in the game
I worked with a great board member.
When she was recruited to the board, she insisted she could invest.
She wanted to demonstrate she was all-in with real cash.
Average board members? Well, they show up to the meetings!
I worked with a great board member.
When she was recruited to the board, she insisted she could invest.
She wanted to demonstrate she was all-in with real cash.
Average board members? Well, they show up to the meetings!
** Great board members cheerlead
CEO is the loneliest job in the world, with no peers inside the organization.
They’re alone, fighting to hold the ship together.
Great board members must stay optimistic to balance this out.
They say "LFG!" and mean it.
CEO is the loneliest job in the world, with no peers inside the organization.
They’re alone, fighting to hold the ship together.
Great board members must stay optimistic to balance this out.
They say "LFG!" and mean it.
This is what I see great board members do that others don't.
And what I strive to do for every board I’m on.
What did I miss?
And what I strive to do for every board I’m on.
What did I miss?
Healthy boards make healthy companies.
And I’m on a mission to make a million healthy business owners in the next decade.
Will you help?
Give this a like, share, or comment so more people see it.
And I’m on a mission to make a million healthy business owners in the next decade.
Will you help?
Give this a like, share, or comment so more people see it.
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