The Imperfect Board Member : Discovering the Seven Disciplines of Governance Excellence Hardcover - 2006 - 1st Edition

Praise for The Imperfect Board Member "Finally! A book about boards that isn't boring!" --Patrick Lencioni, author, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team "Everyone wins with good governance--countries, corporations, and community groups. In a compelling style like no one before him, Jim Brown helps leaders understand the keys for boardroom excellence. The Imperfect Board Member ought to be required reading for people on every type of board. The great thing is that it won't need to be required--it's such a fun book, every leader will want to read it." --Jim Balsillie, chairman and co-CEO, Research in Motion; chair, Centre for International Governance Innovation "I know no board members, myself included, who won't learn valuable lessons from Jim Brown's book The Imperfect Board Member. Don't miss it!" --Ken Blanchard, coauthor, The One-Minute Manager and The Secret "Thanks to Sarbanes-Oxley, boards have become active. The Imperfect Board Member clarifies sharply the lines of what boards need to do and what management needs to do. The time has come for the two groups to work together and yet keep independent." --Ram Charan, coauthor, Execution, and author, Boards That Deliver "The Imperfect Board Member by Jim Brown is a highly perceptive, eminently readable, engagingly human book on how boards and directors can improve their performance. In a breezy conversational style that uses dialogue invitingly and often, the author explores with sensitivity and a light touch not only the standard ingredients but also the more subtle nuances of excellence in both corporate and not-for-profit governance." --William A. Dimma, author, Tougher Boards for Tougher Times; chairman, Home Capital Group Inc.

Meet David Slater. He is an ambitious and overcommitted executive who is struggling to lead his business through its first year as a publicly traded company. Of all his challenges, his board of directors is the most frustrating. He thinks everyone else is the problem. But he's "the imperfect board member."

Support comes from a most unlikely source--a fellow director on the board of a community recreational association. As they volunteer together, David discovers the seven disciplines that will enable any board to lead effectively.

Presented as a captivating leadership fable, The Imperfect Board Member brings the disappointment and dysfunction of boards to life. The main characters in the story combine the contexts of business, nonprofit, and faith-based organizations, making it applicable to boards of every type.

David's struggles and the lessons he learns change how he views his role as a board member. You'll delight as he develops the Governance Excellence Model. And you'll see for yourself how any board, and any board member, can add value to the organizations they serve.

David's story reveals that while it's vital for board members to bring their skills and knowledge to the table so they are able to perform as a "smart" board, it's also imperative that boards be "healthy." A healthy board exhibits the qualities of candor and trust and understands the roles of board and management.

To help put these principles and practices into action, the book concludes by reviewing the model, offering tools and tips, and listing resources. The Imperfect Board Member is filled with insight and understanding to help you take the next step to developing a healthy board.