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THE GREAT CHAIR

Brian Hayward

THE GOVERNANCE MECHANIC

Brian is President of Aldare Resources, advising clients on governance, strategy, and business development.
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The Great Chair

Do you chair meetings at work, play, or in a boardroom?

The Great Chair speaks to a single issue—why board chairs are more important than ever for effective governance. This book tackles board leadership fundamentals, such as:
  • How effective chairs lead the board so the board, in turn, fosters organizational effectiveness
  • How effective leaders engage with colleagues to build and reach consensus
  • The trick to ensuring a focus on the highest priorities
  • And—critically—how to build and sustain trust with the CEO and within the board.
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"One of the best Governance books, if not the best, that I have read. Very enjoyable!"

Rick Powers

Director Education & Governance Essentials Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

“The perfect combination of education, advice, checklists and words of wisdom for chairs, all served up with a healthy dose of humour!”

Tim Hodgson

Chair, Hydro One, Ltd.Chair, Sagicor Financial CompanyDirector, Dialogue Health

"It's the best book I've read about the challenges facing a board chair--full of great suggestions on how to navigate through these challenges!"

Mary Cameron

Chair Habitat for Humanity International

  • “A prudent question is one-half of wisdom” - Francis Bacon
  • "Why do they put pizzas in a square box?" - Bill Murray
  • "Tell a man there’s 300 billion stars and he’ll believe you. Tell a man the bench has wet paint and he’ll touch it to make sure." - Anon
  • "You have come to the shore. There are no instructions." - Denise Levertov
  • "It’s taken me all my life to learn what not to play." - Dizzy Gillespie
  • "In baiting a mousetrap with cheese, always leave room for the mouse." - Saki
  • "In times like these, it's helpful to remember that there have been times like these." - Paul Harvey
  • "Be the ball." - Caddyshack
  • "Listen for the dog that does not bark." - Anonymous
  • "The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas and throw the bad ones away." - Nobel laureate Linus Pauling
  • "Good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions." - Anonymous
  • "I have made this longer than usual because I have not had time to make it shorter." - Blaise Pascal
  • "Everyone has a plan till they get punched in the mouth." - Mike Tyson
  • "You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today." - Abraham Lincoln
  • "The opposite of courage is not cowardice, it is conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow." - Jim Hightower
  • "When I'm bored, I send a text to a random number saying: "I hid the body... now what?" - Anonymous
  • "The cyclone derives its powers from a calm centre. So does a person." - Norman Vincent Peale
  • "Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception." - Niccolo Machiavelli
  • "The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them." - Ernest Hemingway
  • "Culture may eat strategy for breakfast, but Leadership Talent makes sure there is food on the table." - Peter Drucker
  • "In skating over thin ice, our safety is in our speed." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • "Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter." - African proverb
  • "You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water." - Rabindranath Tagore
  • "You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out." - Warren Buffet
  • “A prudent question is one-half of wisdom” - Francis Bacon
  • "Why do they put pizzas in a square box?" - Bill Murray
  • "Tell a man there’s 300 billion stars and he’ll believe you. Tell a man the bench has wet paint and he’ll touch it to make sure." - Anon
  • "You have come to the shore. There are no instructions." - Denise Levertov
  • "It’s taken me all my life to learn what not to play." - Dizzy Gillespie
  • "In baiting a mousetrap with cheese, always leave room for the mouse." - Saki
  • "In times like these, it's helpful to remember that there have been times like these." - Paul Harvey
  • "Be the ball." - Caddyshack
  • "Listen for the dog that does not bark." - Anonymous
  • "The way to get good ideas is to get lots of ideas and throw the bad ones away." - Nobel laureate Linus Pauling
  • "Good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions." - Anonymous
  • "I have made this longer than usual because I have not had time to make it shorter." - Blaise Pascal
  • "Everyone has a plan till they get punched in the mouth." - Mike Tyson
  • "You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today." - Abraham Lincoln
  • "The opposite of courage is not cowardice, it is conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow." - Jim Hightower
  • "When I'm bored, I send a text to a random number saying: "I hid the body... now what?" - Anonymous
  • "The cyclone derives its powers from a calm centre. So does a person." - Norman Vincent Peale
  • "Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception." - Niccolo Machiavelli
  • "The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them." - Ernest Hemingway
  • "Culture may eat strategy for breakfast, but Leadership Talent makes sure there is food on the table." - Peter Drucker
  • "In skating over thin ice, our safety is in our speed." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • "Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter." - African proverb
  • "You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water." - Rabindranath Tagore
  • "You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out." - Warren Buffet

More Details

With nearly four decades of experience with the good, bad, and ugly of the board universe, Brian Hayward hones in on practical ways to develop the thinking and behaviour necessary for anyone taking this seat. Through real-life examples, and stories featuring Paul McCartney, Kalahari bushmen, Robert Maxwell, camels, Buddhist parables, and the Boeing 737 Max, readers will see how chairing a board requires leadership competency of its own (distinct from being a director). See what skills differentiate mediocre chairs from a truly great ones. The Great Chair has take-home value—with practical checklists you can use—and a personal development roadmap for you to develop the key skills central to effectively engaging individuals and groups.
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Aldare Services

Build leadership capacity and effectiveness.

Governance Partner

Experience, Guidance Under Pressure

You're looking for a Director, or Board Chair. Someone with the skills set that fits with the circumstances of your organization.

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Leadership

Confidence, Capacity, Wisdom

You're looking for an Executive coach/mentor. Someone who can partner WITH you to create the path to realizing individual potential.

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Governance Mechanic

Building, Training, Development

You're looking to gain perspective. Someone who can provide you with objective feedback and analysis that improves effectiveness.

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