Boards That Lead (when To Take Charge, When To Partner, And When To Stay Out Of The Way)

By (author) Charan Ram; By (author) Carey Dennis; By (author) Useem Michael
Short description/annotation
The role of the corporate board has changed, and the smartest CEOs are using these changes to their benefit. But increased board control and involvement also has its downsides. This book, from three leading experts in the field, serves as a guide to help take advantage of board oversight while avoiding the pitfalls.
Description
Is your firm''s board creating value--or destroying it? Change is coming. Leadership at the top is being redefined as boards take a more active role in decisions that once belonged solely to the CEO. But for all the advantages of increased board engagement, it can create debilitating questions of authority and dangerous meddling in day-to-day operations. Directors need a new road map--for when to lead, when to partner, and when to stay out of the way. Boardroom veterans Ram Charan, Dennis Carey, and Michael Useem advocate this new governance model--a sharp departure from what has been demanded by governance activists, raters, and regulators--and reveal the emerging practices that are defining shared leadership of directors and executives. Based on personal interviews and the authors'' broad and deep experience working with executives and directors from dozens of the world''s largest firms, including Apple, Boeing, Ford, Infosys, and Lenovo, Boards That Lead tells the inside story behind the successes and pitfalls of this new leadership model and explains how to: * Define the central idea of the company * Ensure that the right CEO is in place and potential successors are identified * Recruit directors who add value * Root out board dysfunction * Select a board leader who deftly bridges the divide between management and the board * Set a high bar on ethics and risk With a total of eighteen checklists that will transform board directors from monitors to leaders, Charan, Carey, and Useem provide a smart and practical guide for businesspeople everywhere--whether they occupy the boardroom or the C-suite.
Review quote
Directors & Boards magazine''s "Governance Book of the Year." "... a must for anyone who sits on a major corporate board--or who wants to understand them... Their very helpful book provides lessons from their experiences, as well as practical advice to others going through the transformation." -- Wall Street Journal "The writers know their stuff...the authors know their audience." -- Financial Times "... a compelling account of a new leadership model for the modern corporation..." -- Directors & Boards magazine "The authors - Ram Charan, Dennis Carey, and Michael Useem--each an expert and practitioner in the field, throw a lot of insights on how companies can benefit from having boards that work rather than just exist." -- Financial Express (India) " a wise and comprehensive book." -- The Globe and Mail "The summarised action points at the end of each chapter allows busy readers to takeaway key thoughts to chew on at their own time of reflection." -- BusinessLeadershipManagement (BLM), The Executives Magazine "Leadership at the top is being redefined as boards take a more active role in decisions that once belonged solely to the CEO. Ram Charan, Dennis Carey and Michael Useem advocate a new governance model and reveal the emerging practices that are defining shared leadership of directors and executives. With a total of eighteen checklists that will transform board directors from monitors to leaders, Charan, Carey and Useem provide a smart and practical guide for business people everywhere - whether they occupy the boardroom or the C-suite." -- Strategic Management Bureau (UK) ADVANCE PRAISE for Boards That Lead: Alan Mulally, CEO and President, Ford Motor Company-- "Boards That Lead provides the essential road map for corporate leadership. With gripping accounts and compelling illustrations, Charan, Carey, and Useem show how directors