10/30/2025

The Art of Effective Board Leadership

Here's how to do it well and understanding the risks of doing it wrong

Fact: Exceptional boards don’t happen by accident. They’re driven by leaders — board chairs, lead directors and committee chairs — who combine strategic foresight, emotional intelligence and an unrelenting commitment to the organization’s long-term health. These leaders unite directors into a high-impact team, work towards a shared vision, challenge and coach the CEO in equal measure, refresh talent relentlessly and stay unflappable when crises hit.

When leadership falters — signaled by groupthink, a poor relationship with the CEO or underperforming directors — they act fast: commissioning frank evaluations, rotating roles, clarifying responsibilities and, if needed, making a change. Outstanding board leaders treat governance as a living system, adapting structures and processes to match strategy and turning oversight into an engine for value creation. By embracing these principles, board leaders can move from “good enough” to game-changing, steering their companies into the future with confidence and purpose.

In this context, effective leaders cultivate a board and board culture with distinct attributes, practices and responsibilities.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance.