MANAGEMENT TIPS

 

ENSURE HONEST DEBATE IN THE BOARDROOM 

Your board can’t make sound decisions if directors are afraid to challenge one another or the CEO. And CEOs may hold back their own doubts when every meeting feels like a performance review. Psychological safety means creating room for disagreement without sacrificing accountability. Here’s how to foster it in the boardroom.

Set expectations for debate. Agree on a board charter that spells out how members should interact, challenge ideas, and address breaches of those norms. Revisit it regularly.

Make reflection routine. Hold regular director-only sessions to discuss board dynamics, concerns, and performance. Making these meetings a standard practice helps prevent them from feeling like crisis response.

Invite more voices. Give each director opportunities to contribute, but avoid rigid round-robins that stifle conversation. Use an open agenda slot to surface concerns that haven’t been raised.

Challenge constructively. Ask probing questions without making the CEO feel interrogated. Invite them to share concerns and tentative ideas without fear of losing the board’s confidence.  

Lead by example. As chair, notice who’s silent, restrain dominant voices, and welcome feedback about your own behavior. Your actions set the tone for candid debate.

Excerpt from Havard business review on management.