Boards
An elected group of individuals representing shareholders who oversee corporate management, strategy, and policy making.
What Is It
A board is typically a board of directors or advisors that provides oversight, guidance, and accountability for an organization. Boards help shape strategy, ensure sound governance, and protect long-term interests. In private companies, boards may be formal or informal depending on structure and ownership.
Why It’s Important
Good boards challenge assumptions, bring external perspective, and help leaders avoid blind spots. Poor boards add bureaucracy, slow decisions, or rubber-stamp management. The difference often lies in clarity aka clear roles, expectations, and mutual respect between leadership and the board.
Best Practices
Define the board’s role clearly
Recruit diverse, independent thinkers
Focus meetings on decisions, not updates
Encourage constructive disagreement
Evaluate board performance regularly
Key Insights
Boards exist to improve decisions, not control execution
Independence matters more than prestige
A strong board strengthens leadership, not weakens it