As a CEO, maintaining alignment with the members of your company’s board of directors is of utmost importance. Being aligned allows you to work toward a shared goal and better understand each board member’s vision for the company. Conversely, without alignment between leadership and the board, it’s hard for all parties to be on the same page about where the company is and where it needs to be to succeed.
Many Forbes Coaches Council members have worked with executive leaders and are acutely aware of the challenges that CEOs face in staying aligned with their company’s board. Below, they share key things a CEO should do to ensure collaboration with their company’s board members is productive and leads the business to greater success.
Members pictured from left to right.
Photos courtesy of the individual members.1. Put Yourself In Their Shoes
One strong thing CEOs can do to stay in alignment with the company's board is to put themselves in the board members’ shoes. What do they value? What are their expectations? Connect with, get to know and understand the board to determine what’s important to them. It will allow you to build authentic relationships that help you stay in alignment with the company and its values. - Jennifer Carrasco, Jennifer Carrasco EOS Implementer
2. Lead With Courage
Courage is in such short supply that for a leader to demonstrate courage today is distinctive. The emotional intelligence to be politically savvy is also essential when dealing with your board, because what people say and what people do is not always the same. Always keep your ear to the ground, and build authentic relationships that will serve you well in challenging times. - Jon Michail, Image Group International
3. Communicate To Share The Same Vision
The role of the chief executive officer, which is to execute the vision of the company created by the board along with the CEO’s suggestions, is in the job title. It’s vital for all actors to have the same vision, and this comes from communication. For example, I always have vision meetings where we discuss the big picture and break it into fundamental steps to turn this vision into reality. - Mark Antoine, Inspired Keynotes
4. Listen With More Than Just Your Ears
Try to understand not only the context but also the points of connection. What does each board member value? Where are they coming from? What is their viewpoint? You won’t always agree, but if you understand, acknowledge and accept what they bring to the table, the CEO will be better equipped to build relationships and maintain alignment, - Michele Cohen, Lead to Growth Coaching
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5. Maintain Values Similar To The Company’s
A CEO must maintain a similar set of values to the company’s board to avoid major conflict and tension. This will strengthen the company’s overall connection and ensure a direct line of focus for new ideas and products. However, maintaining similar values may be difficult, as individual expectations may differ from group expectations, thus creating cognitive dissonance. - Gamini Hewawasam, ManoLead NFP
6. See Yourself As A Peer At The Table
It is easy to consider yourself as a subordinate to the rest of the board. They are your advisors, your governance and your wise counsel in difficult times, but they are not your bosses. Take them on the journey with you and remember that you, not they, are the expert on your business. Help them to know your business; help them know your people and culture. - Gary Crotaz, KultraLab
7. Do A Quarterly Review
The CEO and the company board should all be in alignment with the company’s mission, vision, goals and core values. As long as nothing happens to necessitate a change in any of these areas, there should be no alignment divergence. That’s not to say that things don’t evolve (they do), but a quarterly review of what’s “broken, missing and confused” ensures alignment and relevance all around. - Antonio Garrido, My Daily Leadership
8. Create A Culture Of Accountability
A CEO must establish a culture of accountability at all levels of the organization. They are the bridge between the board’s strategic guidance and expectations and the delivery of operational performance. When managers and teams have clear performance measures, the CEO can evaluate progress as well as address issues that may take them off track. Accountability and delivery build trust both ways. - Gabriella Goddard, Brainsparker Global
9. Learn About Each Board Member’s Perspective
The CEO must be crystal clear about the mission of the company and spend sufficient time one-on-one with each board member to understand each one’s degree of interest in, and impact on, that mission. Mission clarity and stakeholder mapping go a long way toward creating, nurturing and sustaining alignment across the board. - Claire Chandler, Talent Boost
10. Listen To The Market And Your Own Organization
The CEO must be more “on top of” the business than “in” the business. Communication and relationship management are essential to keep aligned with the board. A CEO who listens to the market and to their own organization asks the right questions of the right people, makes the right decisions and successfully communicates their vision and expectations. With a clear “why,” “what” and “how,” the board can act. - Krumma Jónsdóttir, Positive Performances
11. Understand Your Board’s Motivations
CEOs need to understand the motivations of the board—both collectively and of the individual board members. Everyone has an agenda and there are motivations behind that agenda. When the CEO understands and validates those motivations, alignment increases. The challenge is staying on top of changes in board member motivations. Consistent communication with the board is essential. - Evan Roth, Roth Consultancy International, LLC.
12. Engage Regularly And Seek Input
Finding common ground and ensuring that all voices on a company board are heard can be challenging. Staying strongly aligned with a company’s board members requires communicating and collaborating proactively and consistently. By regularly engaging with the board and seeking input and guidance, the CEO can help ensure that the company is on track to achieve its goals and objectives. - Tinna Jackson, Jackson Consulting Group, LLC
13. Provide Regular Performance Updates
To stay in alignment with the board, a CEO must regularly communicate and provide updates on the company’s performance and plans. This can be challenging due to other responsibilities and priorities, but strong communication and collaboration with the board is crucial for the company’s success. - Doug Holt, The Powerful Man
14. Be Open And Seek Advice
Strong alignment starts with an open and transparent, two-way relationship. Besides all the great work, the CEO should also share areas where things could be better. Being open and seeking advice is a good way to build engagement and alignment. In instances where the board is very distant from the ground realities of the business, this becomes a challenge, as most advice is rendered useless. - Sandeep Jain, Value-Unlocked Private Limited
15. Know Your Board Inside And Out
Influence is relationship plus power. Know your board inside and out. Know what they value and what value each brings. Know their interests—especially those of investor members. Know their inner workings and dynamics; boards, like any set of human relationships, can have healthy or unhealthy dysfunction. Listen, learn and leverage. - Jodie Charlop, Exceleration Partners
