Deloitte’s “Chair of the Future – United States” provides insights based on interviews with independent board chairs on the attributes and behaviors deemed important to lead boards that are well-positioned to tackle the evolving and seemingly limitless areas of expected responsibility going forward. Similar to last week’s “Board Leadership Refresh” report, there is an acknowledgment that the traditional board leadership role must evolve to encompass a much broader range of issues and stakeholders than was the case historically. The insights provided by the “Chair of the Future” report make clear that today’s board chairs not only are keenly aware of, but are thoughtfully considering and acting on, these new demands and expectations.
The publication is replete with practical tips and alternative approaches from seasoned chairs across numerous board practices including board composition, director education, board meetings and materials, committee structure, CEO succession planning, stakeholder engagement, and the strategic planning process.
See “Corporate board chairs agree: They need to be much more assertive” (Fortune); “The Right Stuff” (Directors & Boards); the referenced Society/Deloitte: “Board Practices Quarterly: 2021 Boardroom Agenda”; and additional resources on our Board Leadership page.
This post first appeared in the weekly Society Alert!