THE GREAT CHAIR

A veteran of many boardrooms discusses the importance of chairpersons and the elements of their success.

Hayward, the president of professional advisory practice Aldare Resources, has been a member of many boards over the years. In this book, he observes that corporate governance has become a hot topic of conversation and academic scrutiny but that a specific analysis of board chairpersons has been comparably neglected. Historically, this makes sense, as the position has typically been either a part-time job or one performed by a CEO. However, the author argues that the chairperson’s role has become more central and that it will be a “mission-critical issue” in the future. In addition to making an argument for the significance of the chairperson, Hayward discusses the “nitty gritty” of the position’s principal responsibilities and provides a general plan for how one can develop into a stellar chairperson. The position emerges, in the author’s account, as a complex amalgam of roles: facilitator, mediator of disputes, inspirational coach, strategist, and mentor. Along the way, Hayward astutely captures the peculiarity of the position: “The chair is not a boss. The chair does not have a boss.” The counsel he dispenses in this book is as particular and actionable as it is incisive, and his anatomy of decision-making is especially impressive. To illustrate his points, Hayward offers many stories here, and they’re often illuminating and charming. However, they can also be digressive, which bogs down the reading experience. The author even seems to anticipate this criticism: “Another story? You may wonder, what does this anecdote have to do with board agendas? This time, it doesn’t.” Still, his considerable experience—in his long career at the C-suite and boardroom level, he’s participated in some 500 board meetings—radiates throughout the book. Anyone looking to master the “multi-party negotiations” that define board meetings will find this a valuable resource.

An insightful and practical leadership primer.