A great director I served with: Robert S. Strauss, he's not a 'pipe smoking' director.

• Author: Kling, S. Lee
• Position: Putting In Place the Right Board for the 21st Century

OVER THE YEARS, I have crossed paths with literally hundreds of fellow directors on the boards of companies large and small, successful and struggling, old-line and start-up. Most of these men and women have served with great distinction and dedication, and many have helped me become a better director through the examples they set. None, however, stand out in my mind quite as much as Robert S. Strauss.

Still practicing with the law firm he founded 50 years ago, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, Bob was chairman of the Democratic National Committee and of Jimmy Carter's two presidential election campaigns. He also served as the special trade representative in President Carter's cabinet and as his personal representative at the Middle East Peace Negotiations. Under President George Bush, Bob took on a critical assignment as U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union -- and later the Russian Federation -- during the dramatic events that reshaped the Eastern Bloc.

By my personal observation and his own admission, Bob Strauss has never been what he calls a "pipe smoking" director -- one who says the least and speaks the last -- on boards of companies including PepsiCo, Xerox, and Archer-Daniels-Midland. He speaks up early and frequently, but is always willing to change his mind as the discussion develops if a strong case is made for the opposing viewpoint. It doesn't bother Bob to say, "I haven't thought of that," and shift his position.

That last point speaks to one of the most important things I have learned from Bob Strauss about being a director. While Bob is one who stimulates discussion and never sits on the sidelines, he will be the first to tell you that the best boards draw from the broad experience of different directors with different strengths. Not only that, he is a strong believer that the ability of board members to communicate effectively and respect each other's opinions is also crucial.

I had the...