Advice for CEOs

In the first part of this article I explained the contrast between a “working” and an “approval” board. A review of the Boards of successful companies, such as those of Exxon, Google, and Nestle, provides an interesting comparison with those of struggling companies such as JC Penny, NYSERTA, or Hewlett Packard.

Experienced Board Directors have typically been exposed to a variety of Board operating styles: from hands-on to very hands-off. Which style is best? The answer, of course, depends on the nature of the organization and the objectives of the Board. But even more important than style is a more basic issue: how Board members see their role.