Boardroom Excellence

In Boardroom Excellence, author Paul Brountas, a corporate attorney with more than forty years experience, discusses the qualities and components of effective boards in today’s post-Enron environment. Written in a concise format, the book is filled with informative practical advice for board members of private, public, and nonprofit organizations. Boardroom Excellence contains an informed discussion of fundamental corporate governance issues, including the duties and responsibilities of directors and the proper interaction of the board with the CEO and management. Brountas reveals how board members can be most effective when they are independent, possess integrity, are well-informed and involved, and are proactive. Boardroom Excellence offers timely information about Establishing the values and qualities that board members should possess Developing an environment in the boardroom where skepticism and serious discussion are encouraged Understanding what the CEO expects of the board and what the board expects of the CEO Creating effective independent audit, compensation, nominating, and governance committees Formulating guidelines for periodic evaluation of the performance of the board and individual board members

Corporate governance has become a hot topic on both sides of the Atlantic. Myths and misunderstandings abound. What constitutes a competent director and an effective board? How are directors selected and prepared for boardroom appointments? How can a director become a more effective member of the boardroom team? Are you satisfied wit the performance and composition of your company's board?

Despite the many changes in governance regulation over the past decade, few boards function as a true corporate asset to the companies they oversee. In this book, Behan offers practical advice that a CEO, Chairman or board member can introduce at the very next meeting. Boardrooms are filled with intelligent, accomplished people—yet seldom achieve their full potential and add the kind of value for the CEO, executive team and company shareholders that many boards are actually capable of. Beverly Behan draws on her experience working with more than 100 boards over the past 14 years—from major Fortune 500s to recent IPOs—offering no-nonsense insights that can take any board from mediocrity to the top of its game including establishing a constructive working relationship with your board; addressing some of the dysfunction that may lie within the board you’ve inherited, and making your board a significant asset to you, your company, and your executive team. Working with the Board of Directors is one of the most important components of any CEO’s job—and most will admit it is something they wish they knew more about. Nearly all CEOs want to change at least something about their board, yet many are unsure how to go about this in the right way. This book not only alerts the reader to common pitfalls that CEO's can make with their boards, it provides workable approaches to a tackle a variety of boardroom issues from getting new talent into the boardroom to engaging effectively with the board on strategy and succession planning.

Praise for Boardroom Realities "Authored by a 'who's who' roster of governance experts, Boardroom Realities covers the latest trends in board leadership and performance as well as talent management for the board and the C-suite—all critical topics for any director serious about board service today." —Kenneth Daly, president and CEO, National Association of Corporate Directors "If leadership and effectiveness in the boardroom were important in a more benign environment, they're absolutely vital in today's tumultuous times. Boardroom Realities provides a modern and detailed road map to help steer chairmen, CEOs, and boards through these uncharted governance waters." —Peter Weinberg, partner, Perella Weinberg Partners "Jay Conger's Boardroom Realities offers a unique perspective on governance through leadership, rather than compliance, and should compel all directors to revisit the focus of board deliberations, especially at this time of unprecedented economic and financial turmoil." —Alison A. Winter, cofounder, WomenCorporateDirectors, and a corporate director for Nordstrom, Inc. "Boardroom Realities is a very comprehensive compilation of useful insights on key issues that boards must deal with every day. It's an excellent resource for board members as well as members of management who must work together to ensure good governance on behalf of shareholders." —Ronald D. Sugar, chairman of the board and CEO, Northrop Grumman Corporation "Jay Conger has collected critical insights and the latest thinking on board leadership from many of today's foremost governance thinkers. Boardroom Realities is a must for your board and for any comprehensive corporate governance library." —Ralph D. Ward, publisher, Boardroom INSIDER, and author, The New Boardroom Leaders

Distinguished governance experts offer cures for what ails our boards of directors In light of corporate malfeasance in recent years, the governance of corporations has been receiving great attention from regulators, researchers, shareholders, and directors themselves. Based on Richard Leblanc's in-depth five-year study of 39 boards of directors of both for- and not-for-profit organizations, Building a Better Board goes behind the scenes to reveal the inner workings of boards of directors, including how they make decisions. Recently chosen as one of Canada's "Top 40 Under 40"(TM), Dr Richard Leblanc is an award-winning teacher and researcher, certified management consultant, professional speaker, professor, lawyer and specialist on boards of directors. He can be reached at [email protected]. James Gillies, PhD (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), is Professor Emeritus at the Schulich School of Business, York University, where he serves as Chair of the Canada-Russia Corporate Governance Program.

"How would you compare what you expected of board service versus the reality?" "What do you want to say to lifelong learners of corporate governance?" Compiling wisdom and practical knowledge from interviews with over 40 board directors, spanning board chairs and CEOs at public companies, private companies, and nonprofit organizations, The Art of Director Excellence, Volume 1 presents insightful answers to these questions and more. It explores a variety of important topics in corporate governance, including developing business strategy with management, navigating risks, being a board chair or committee member on different types of boards, and improving ESG and diversity, along with the many differences in how these decisions are handled in North America, Asia, and Europe. While this book is an invaluable asset for both new and existing board directors inside the boardroom, it has use outside it as well. The real-world wisdom and experience in this volume will complement academic textbooks as shown in the appendix, which cross references commonly used textbooks to show how this book matches their contents. Academics, business school faculty and students in executive education, as well as graduate and undergraduate corporate governance classes will benefit immensely from this book. Emerging leaders in investment banking, proxy advisory, and executive recruiting will gain knowledge of the inner workings of the boardroom.

Seeking assistance in setting up a board meeting can be a strategic move to ensure that the gathering proceeds smoothly and efficiently. Firstly, the complexity of board meetings necessitates meticulous planning and coordination. From organizing agendas to arranging documents and coordinating schedules, there are numerous details to manage. Having an assistant dedicated to these tasks can help alleviate the burden and ensure nothing falls through the cracks. Moreover, time constraints often play a significant role in seeking assistance. Those responsible for arranging board meetings likely have other pressing responsibilities. By delegating some of the logistical work to an assistant, they can focus their attention on higher-priority tasks, thereby maximizing productivity and efficiency. Attention to detail is paramount in the setup of board meetings. From confirming attendance to ensuring all necessary materials are prepared, even minor oversights can have significant consequences. With an extra set of eyes overseeing the process, potential errors can be caught and rectified before they impact the meeting's success. Additionally, there are often formal protocols and etiquettes to follow when organizing board meetings, especially within organizations with stringent governance structures. An assistant well-versed in these protocols can ensure that the meeting adheres to established guidelines, maintaining professionalism and fostering a positive atmosphere among attendees. Lastly, as technology continues to play an increasingly prominent role in meetings, assistance may be sought to manage digital platforms and tools effectively. Whether setting up virtual meetings or coordinating digital document sharing, proficiency in technology is essential. An assistant with expertise in these areas can streamline the process, enhancing the overall meeting experience for participants. In conclusion, seeking assistance in setting up a board meeting can enhance efficiency, mitigate errors, and ensure adherence to protocols, ultimately contributing to the success of the gathering.

This book is an exceptional resource for leaders at every level across industries. An insightful guidebook comprised of 40 illuminating principles showcasing the fundamental competencies that impact performance in the boardroom and beyond, each chapter includes the following core components: 1) a robust, but succinct discussion introducing each principle; 2) key strategies providing straightforward guidance on how to master each principle; 3) a selection of thoughtful journal questions that allow for meaningful introspection, and finally, 4) a leadership challenge—a stretch goal—that brings each principle into immediate, scalable focus. Whether a seasoned or emerging leader, each reader will discover useful perspectives contained within each chapter designed to firmly orient their thinking and behavior towards leadership excellence. An enduring resource for circumstances in which every leader will inevitably find him or herself confronting, it will also serve as the “go to” professional development resource for elevating leadership brands and facilitating the necessary trench work required to develop competent and confident leaders regardless of industry or expertise. Different from traditional books that provide a one-dimensional view of what leadership is and do little more than categorize existing traits, Poised for Excellence breaks the mold. It creates the context for understanding leadership development as a holistic process: By focusing on the mastery of fundamental principles structured to develop the whole person through service to self and others, it ignites an evolutionary process that cultivates 360 degrees of effective leadership. It directs readers to stake a bold claim to their success and transform the way they show up in the boardroom and beyond. Poised for Excellence was written to nurture the leadership potential in business leaders who desire to operate in excellence and believe that learning and practice are non-negotiable aspects of leadership success.

The definitive leadership guide on safe practices The release of chemicals and other hazardous materials pose significant, potentially catastrophic threats worldwide. An alarming number of such events, all of which are preventable, occur too often. Reducing the frequency of serious incidents is a fundamental responsibility of leadership at all levels, from frontline managers and supervisors to C-suite executives and the board of directors as well. Process Safety Leadership from the Boardroom to the Frontline is a practical, authoritative guide that clearly demonstrates how to create a viable culture of safety within an organization, implement and maintain disciplined management systems, and address the risks of process safety deficiencies. The most important factor in any management system is leadership. For chemical process safety management, effective and informed leadership provides direction, reinforces commitment, and drives responsibility. Written by experts from the Center for Chemical Process Safety, the world's largest provider of engineering curriculum materials for process safety, this pragmatic book contains the critical information and guidelines required to lead and manage process safety. Detailed yet accessible chapters examine topics such as strengthening management system accountability, driving operation within constraints, ensuring corporate memory, verifying execution, and more. Designed to be frequently used, shared, and discussed by leadership teams throughout an organization, this indispensable resource: Demonstrates the many ways process safety benefits an organization, based on benchmarking and broad industrial experience Develops skills and expands knowledge needed to drive consistent, reliable process safety performance Describes essential behaviors and actions for leaders to drive excellence in process safety cultures and disciplined management systems Helps establish risk criteria and safeguards for companies Presents new and previously unpublished experiences, approaches, and thinking Written for executives, plant leaders, functional managers, frontline supervisors and also individual contributors, Process Safety Leadership from the Boardroom to the Frontline provides a much-needed guide for instituting safe practices within a company. The Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) has been the world leader in developing and disseminating information on process safety management and technology since 1985. The CCPS, an industry technology alliance of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), has published over 100 books in its process safety guidelines and process safety concepts series, and over 10 training modules through its Safety in Chemical Engineering Education (SAChE) series.

Distinguished governance experts offer cures for what ails our boards of directors In light of corporate malfeasance in recent years, the governance of corporations has been receiving great attention from regulators, researchers, shareholders, and directors themselves. Based on Richard Leblanc's in-depth five-year study of 39 boards of directors of both for- and not-for-profit organizations, Building a Better Board goes behind the scenes to reveal the inner workings of boards of directors, including how they make decisions. Recently chosen as one of Canada's "Top 40 Under 40"(TM), Dr Richard Leblanc is an award-winning teacher and researcher, certified management consultant, professional speaker, professor, lawyer and specialist on boards of directors. He can be reached at [email protected]. James Gillies, PhD (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), is Professor Emeritus at the Schulich School of Business, York University, where he serves as Chair of the Canada-Russia Corporate Governance Program.