Building better Boards…
…starts with the Chair
Today’s Chairs need to be masters of complexity and ‘meaning makers’ skilled in advocating and balancing an array of different stakeholders (shareholders, internal and broader society). They need to understand their company’s anchoring in society and engage their peers on the Board by being an accomplished navigator of relationships with high EQ and low ego. They need to be approachable to ensure they are in touch with, and hear the truth from, the whole Board while being a phenomenal mentor and advocate for transformation, challenging traditional paradigms.
Given these challenges, we propose a new lens is required to look at the leadership repertoire of the Chair of today. Our belief is that the current landscape for ‘learning’ in the Boardroom rests largely on a methodology of skill-based interventions and teach-ins and may neglect the ‘unnamed’ skills to truly perform in the role – self-awareness and a deep relational capacity.
This invitation-only programme is a unique, confidential opportunity focusing on attaining higher levels of leadership as a Chair. Participants are chosen and invited through Egon Zehnder and assembled based on similarities in experience, potential, and their ability to connect and contribute as a supportive group of peers.
The faculty combines Egon Zehnder Partners who bring decades of pattern recognition and practice in serving Boards, as well as world-leading transformational coaches and facilitators from Mobius.
Topics to be covered
Understanding underlying relational dynamics that Boards get stuck in – either amongst themselves or in their relationship with their Executive Committees/ Management Boards
Unlocking the CEO/Chair relationship through ‘knowing self and patterns’
Sharing unique Board insights gathered from decades of working with Boards globally– both from Egon Zehnder Partners as well as guest speakers
Identifying when Boards are ‘run in patterns of the past’ and what transformation looks like in the Boardroom
Holding space and grounding: finding sources of wisdom, integrity, and authenticity
The Chair identity: boss; challenger; confidant; coach; critical friend
Looking at Boards through the lens of constellations
Exclusive Chair Retreat
Chairing Boards From Within
What
Invitation-only – 3 days offsite, wrapping up midday on Wednesday. The retreat will be preceded by an initial intake call with the development advisor
When
Starting with dinner on Sunday, July 9th, followed by 3 days offsite from Monday to Wednesday
Where
Near London
Takeaways
We hope you’ll leave being able to say:
- I feel more connected to my company’s purpose and clearer on how to bring humanity into business
- I am better at navigating ambiguity and holding polarities
- I can spot unhelpful patterns within my Board and unlock its potential; I am better at noticing my own patterns
- I am part of a cohort of Chairs invested in their personal growth
- I am committed to building more conscious leadership on the Boards
Fee
As we are piloting this programme and would rely on your feedback for its improvement in the future, participants will only need to cover their travel and accommodation costs
Team
This exclusive Board retreat will be run by Egon Zehnder and Mobius faculty
“It’s very simple… this is about developing range in leadership. And when it comes to boards that’s hugely relevant. Great boards are about diversity and good leadership. You can’t tell ‘them’ what to do. You can, as a board member or as a chair, tune up your leadership and adopt different approaches and styles that nurture the board’s value for the benefit of the whole organisation”
Previous EZ/Mobius
programme participant
