Leading Boards Build Strong Relationships

Engage more deeply to learn about and from each other

Who This Is For 

Board chair, committee chairs, mentors, and board members

The Aim 

Build trust in a safe, meaningful way to empower effective and engaged board work.

Take Action

• Add connection exercises to meetings and retreats
• Plan inclusive board get-togethers and activities
• Engage in learning to foster collaboration, especially across differences*
• Connect with the company, such as attending customer meetings or visiting  sales offices
   

User Tip: Try encouraging small gatherings with subsets of the board, such as the newest members, the people who identify as women*, or people from non-headquarter countries. 

Benefits

Going beyond the surface can enable the board to work more effectively, especially through difficult and challenging conversations.

Why It Matters

Engaging across differences can create inadvertent protective mechanisms*—fear of speaking up and hesitation to hear what is being said. Understanding another’s perspective can mitigate misinterpretations, reduce protective mechanisms and enhance effectiveness. 

_{^{*Differences: For the purpose of this playbook, difference is used as a term to identify that all people in a boardroom have varying backgrounds and identities. 
*Women: We broadly define the word woman: we include women across multiple dimensions: race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, and age. 
*Protective mechanisms: When faced with uncertainty, including when working across differences, people can respond with behaviors aiming to protect them, even if the harm is only perceived.}} 

_{^{Learn more about these terms in the glossary.}}