Governance Resources

Board Leadership

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All Governance Resources / Board Leadership

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Committees & Roles

Core Oversight Topics

2025 Governance Outlook

Explore the 2025 Governance Outlook report, offering key insights and strategies for the year ahead.

Our staffʼs suggestions for the best on this topic.

Director Essentials

Succession Planning for Board and Committee Leaders

Learn four steps that boards can take to strengthen their leadership succession planning processes and practices.
Director Essentials

Board Leadership Structures

Consider the pros and cons of the various types of board leadership structures, including independent chair, combined CEO/chair, executive chair, and nonindependent chair.
Boardroom Tool

Boardroom Diplomacy: Mastering the Art of Difficult Conversations

Directors can approach sensitive discussions with respect while acknowledging opposing viewpoints and focusing on the best interests of the organization.
Director Essentials

Board Packs: The Elephant in the Boardroom

Turn board materials into a driver of board and organizational performance.
Blue Ribbon Commission

Culture as the Foundation: Building a High-Performance Board

Learn how board leaders can be board culture carriers with practical recommendations and dedicated tools.
Director Essentials

Executive Sessions

A board leaderʼs quick guide to the when, how, and why behind executive sessions.

Practical tools, templates, and more to put into action at your next meeting.

Boardroom Tool

Board Leadership Peer-Evaluation

Solicit feedback on the performance of individual directors who serve in leadership roles on the board.
Boardroom Tool

Attributes of a Lead Director

Key attributes for lead directors as identified by KPMG through their Lead Director Initiative.
Director FAQ

Board Leadership Structure: Split Versus Combined CEO/Chair

Explore the right leadership options for your board.
Boardroom Tool

Board Calendar Sample

Schedule standing agenda items for the board.
Boardroom Tool

Board Performance Evaluation Sample

Identify improvement areas for board governance and member contributions.
Boardroom Tool

Setting Expectations About Director Behavior

Communicate desired behaviors and expectations for directors.
Boardroom Tool

Position Descriptions for Board Leadership

These position descriptions outline the key responsibilities and expectations for the board chair and lead independent director roles.

A selection of editorial content from Directorship^® magazine, including online exclusives.

ONLINE ARTICLE

It's Time to Restore Balance in the Board-CEO Relationship

Explore the high cost of CEO departures, emphasizing the need for boards to focus on building strong CEO relationships to reduce turnover & improve results.
ONLINE ARTICLE

Courage, Certainty, and Leading Through the Complex Currents of Relentless Change

Peter R. Gleason, NACD president and CEO, details recent and upcoming initiatives as he gives his opening speech at NACD Summit 2023.
Online Article

A Director’s Responsibility to the CEO

Find out if your board is contributing to the functional performance of the CEO.

Links to key resources, regulators, rulemakers, and governance-specific context.

Commentary

Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance

Browse expert commentary on board leadership.
Advice

Facilitating the Boardʼs Engagement in Strategy

Lead-director-centered insights on strategy planning from KPMG.
Advice

Briefs from Farient Advisors

A primer from KPMG on the lead directorʼs role when something is uncertain.
Commentary

Establishing Norms for Director Behavior to Enhance Board Culture and Effectiveness

Commentary from Sidleyʼs Holly Gregory on the power of shared standards of conduct.
Perspectives

Framing the Future of Corporate Governance

Deloitteʼs framework for the modern corporate governance regime.
Advice

Nose In, Fingers Out, and Ears to the Ground

Russell Reynoldsʼs look at the boardʼs increased focus on talent and HR oversight.