Being a Board Director is a Business of Questions

Being a board director, like executive management, is a business of questions, of being curious, and being confident in oneself. One of my most interesting experiences was that I chaired the Audit and Risk Committee of the Office Police Integrity, Victoria – a covert agency where everything was a secret (it often reminded me of an episode of Get Smart). Imagine sitting as an independent chair, and trying to smoke out information when everything is secret. It comes down to the fact that as a board director, or as an executive management person, you’ve got to know how to ask a question. You’ve got to know how to build a relationship of trust and relaxation that allows people to tell you openly and honestly about what’s happening in the business.