Six Elephants in the Boardroom

A high-performing board will be a hotbed of ideas, constructive debate and well-informed analysis. However, unacknowledged problems at the top table can damage all this good work. Emma Riddell asks senior business leaders to identify what they see as the “elephants” in the boardroom.

Key points include:

It is critical to ensure that the senior leadership team is 100 percent committed to the company's goals.
The most effective boards feature openness and the freedom to have honest and clear conversations. In such fast-moving markets, it’s unrealistic to expect executives to have all the answers.
When businesses are performing well, there is the temptation to avoid making decisions that may be disruptive, even though this may be the best time to deal with problems.
While the quality of strategic discussions and decisions are crucial, once made, they also need to be disseminated throughout the organisation.
Chairmen and NEDs can quickly find themselves out of touch with their younger customers, particularly when they no longer have executive roles.

Contributors

Beth Butterwick, CEO, Karen Millen

Matthew Blagg, CEO, Criticaleye

Roger Bayly, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal

Nigel Howell, CEO, FirstPort

Laurence Vallaeys, Director, Warren Partners