The New CEO

CHAPTER 9Working with the Board

“You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together we can achieve great things.”

—Mother Theresa

A unique aspect of being a CEO is working with (and for) a board of directors. If this is your first CEO role, you will be in new territory.

As a senior executive, you may have interacted with the board—when you're in the C-suite, having time on the board agenda is often a sign of progression and responsibility. Perhaps you had the chance to present, address certain questions, or even participate in committees and projects.

If you were hired internally, you will have likely had the opportunity to engage with the directors and chair you'll now work with as CEO.

Opportunities like these give you a decent insight into board interactions and the start of a relationship with the chair and directors, but do not assume that you'll enjoy a similar homecoming now that you are CEO.

When you present as a C-suite executive, you are in a show role, and generally very well prepared. Most boards are gentle on visiting executives and leave the tough aspects for the sitting CEO. The board dynamic also shifts in the presence of incomers.

It is common for first-time CEOs to find that they have greatly underestimated the time it takes to manage the board interactions and demands. They find that being in board meetings is often taxing, and navigating the different roles and personalities a challenge. For many, they had thought that being a CEO meant ...