The 15 questions every Board member needs to ask:

• Is our Board composition right for the challenge?
• Are we addressing the risks that could send our company over the cliff?
• Are we prepared to do our job well when a crisis erupts?
• Are we well prepared to name our next CEO?
• Does our Board really own the company’s strategy?
• How can we get the information we need to govern well?
• How can our Board get CEO remuneration right?
• Why do we need a lead Director anyway?
• Is our governance committee best of breed?
• How do we get the most value out of our limited time?
• How can executive sessions help the Board own up?
• How can our Board self-evaluation improve our functioning and our output?
• How do we stop from micro-managing?
• How prepared are we to work with activist shareholders and their proxies?
• What strategic issues keep the Board awake at night?

As a qualified Company Director, Derrick is available as an independent Executive Director, a role he performs for a few companies.

Executive Coaching and Mentoring Key Points:

• Boards have to be vigilant to prevent crises and ensure that management is well prepared for the knowable unknown.
• When an unknowable unknown strikes, the challenge is to sort it out first and imagine different options and their ramifications.
• Boards have to take the lead when an emergency arises; to keep people informed, steady people’s nerves and help management sort through the options for action.