What makes the primary difference?

• Author: Conger, Jay
• Position: LEADERSHIP

From Boardroom Realities, edited by Jay Conger. Copyright 2009 by John Wiley & Sons Inc. Published by Jossey-Bass, a Wiley imprint (www.josseybass.com).

WHAT MY COLLEAGUES in this book and I have learned is that simply having the "right" governance practices on your board is only a first step--at best. We actually know from research that there is little or no relationship between the presence or absence of most board governance practices and the performance of your organization. After all, Enron won acclaim for its many "best practice" boardroom governance structures.

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Boardroom leadership and character make the primary difference in the performance of a board--not a set of governance practices. In other words, effective boards are more often the product of a leadership capacity shared across the board and a culture that encourages candid dialogue and inquiry. They are the combination of a CEO who earnestly shares his or her power with the board and directors who are able to lead in the unique setting of a boardroom.

Effective boards...