Boards

Leadership transitions go awry with alarming frequency, often the result of an emotionally charged power struggle between the CEO and his would-be heir. Four practices, however, can help successors defuse the crisis—and make it to the top.

And in some cases the boards themselves will have to change.

“Did I find it frustrating as the White House Chief of Staff? Toughest job I ever had, but…if you find it unpleasant to cope with a complex problem that is simultaneously the business of four or five Cabinet departments, several public interest groups, and the Congress, and one that the President will finally decide, then […]

Different personalities require different approaches.

The questions that boards, managers, and shareholders should be asking.

Ed Davidson is on top of the world, literally and figuratively, at the beginning of this fictional case study. He's in the Swiss Alps, headed for Davos...

Kasriel grew up around computers and started writing programs when he was 12. In a way, he says, he was like one of today's typical Silicon Valley kids,...

Three CEOs will share the title, but perhaps not with equal power.

Diagnosing and dealing with difficult directors.

IQ and EQ aren't enough.

The seven seismic shifts of perspective and responsibility

A wounded-but-wiser AT&T veteran recounts how one of the world’s biggest and best-known companies became one of its most battered—and explains how others can avoid that fate.

What other banks should watch out for.

It’s hard to give up the reins. But a chief executive who initiates and manages his own succession can add enormous value to the company.

How to bridge the gap between what boards say about climate change and what they do.

Sarah is a director of a Real Estate Investment Trust whose CEO has expressed his admiration of her intellect and drive for information, but board meetings...

Some criticize boards for leaving the evolution of their composition to chance, allowing director retirements to dictate the pace of change. Support for annual director elections and for increased transparency around director nominations suggests that some shareholders would like to see more turnover. Is there evidence that companies and shareholders actually benefit when boards add […]

Landing a job as a CEO today is no longer all about industry expertise and financial savvy. What companies are really seeking are leaders with strong...

This post is part of our in-depth look at Obama's First 90 Days in office. What a difference a few days can make to the trajectory of a transition. At...

Both have risks. Here's how to strike the right balance.