Setting Expectations About Director Behavior

Produced with the 2023 Report of the NACD Blue Ribbon Commission on Culture as the Foundation: Building a High-Performance Board, this model draws on proprietary Russell Reynolds Associates’ research and data about highly effective directors and boards. The tool may be used at various stages to establish behavioral criteria during the recruitment, onboarding, and individual performance review cycles.

HOW DIRECTORS STAND OUT AS DISTINCTIVELY EFFECTIVE

• Regularly check the altimeter and stay focused on material, strategic topics and questions, and recognize changes to altitude are appropriate but should be done for clear reasons.
• Create a model for your work that prioritizes being curious over being judgmental. Always try to lead with questions rather than answers (or worse, accusations).
• Outside meetings, make the continuous effort to truly understand the industry and business constraints so that you can better leverage your own experience to the real issues at hand.
• Maintain a healthy and appropriate tension with management, characterized by a balance of support, trust, accountability, independence, challenge, and partnership.
• Recognize that your ability to add value has a shelf life. Objectively look in the mirror and be ready for when it is your time to step down (e.g., experience is becoming “staler”).