[Editor's note: the following excerpt appears in Directors & Boards Third Quarter 2015 issue.]
Whether a first-time or seasoned director, some form of reference and background checking is vital to ensuring that the best people are sitting at the board table. The following are some useful questions that can help in your search:
⢠How does the individual demonstrate that they appreciate and respect the differing roles of management and the board?
⢠In your experience, how does the individual contribute to healthy dynamics in the boardroom or in a business environment? Can you give a couple of examples?
⢠How does he/she handle the pressure? How does he/she deal with a contentious issue? Do you see any reason for concern?
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⢠Have you seen any situations where the individual has been in a conflicted situation? Perhaps a client overlap, a new board or executive role, access to the information? How has he/she handled it? Has he/she been forthcoming on disclosure of potential conflict situations or issues that might compromise or embarrass a company?
⢠What issues have we not discussed that are important for an engaged, thoughtful director of high integrity?
— Madeleine Condit and Sheila Penrose