ABSTRACT

How can boards and members of boards reach their full potential? The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations (TIHR) has been at the forefront of thinking about organizations since its inception in 1947. Today, as then, the corporate world is undergoing increasing pressure to demonstrate a sustainable, generative and meaningful impact on society and employees whilst delivering improved services and products. These tensions and others are explored in this important new book, Dynamics at Boardroom Level: A Tavistock Primer for Leaders, Coaches and Consultants.

In this book, the reader gets a useful framework of theory and practice that broadens vision and deepens thinking about what is happening in boardrooms. The book opens the door to the reader to a new world of board dynamics, edited by those who really understand the deeper workings of the complex human system and its work at board level. This edited volume brings together the insights and contemporary case studies from participants on the Tavistock Institute Dynamics @ Board Level programme that draws on the thinking of Tavistock scholars and practitioners and their work on the dynamics of task, role, authority and power.

Edited by programme co-directors Dr Mannie Sher and Dr Leslie Brissett and their fellow Tavistock Associate Tazi Lorraine Smith, and with contributions from senior leadership practitioners and board evaluators from the government, international consultancy firms, FTSE 100 and global UN institutions, this book speaks directly to issues of our time. It represents essential reading for leaders of organizations and businesses, as well as leadership coaches and mental health professionals.

chapter |2 pages

Homage

Edward Craft of Wedlake Bell LLP

part I|35 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|7 pages

Improving board dynamics

Towards a balanced framework

chapter 3|9 pages

Mastering group dynamics

Embedding a learning and coaching culture in board work

chapter 4|9 pages

Board dynamics

A powerful tool to deal with uncertain times

part III|40 pages

Introduction

chapter 11|10 pages

‘Being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts’

The application of negative capability in the board

chapter 12|4 pages

The importance of not being earnest

The role of humour in the boardroom

chapter 14|9 pages

Competition, corruption and collusion

The quest for power

chapter 15|9 pages

Board effectiveness

Learning to and from experience

part IV|56 pages

Case illustrations

chapter 16|10 pages

Joining charity boards

Consequences for board performance and future improvement

chapter 18|6 pages

The Caspian Sea housing company

The role of board member in a two-family business

chapter 19|6 pages

Corruption, leader narcissism and the dynamics of board governance

The case of Marks & Spencer, 1999–2000

chapter 20|8 pages

The Finnish tango

A study of boards in north eastern Europe

chapter 21|12 pages

A view from the top

A CEO’s reflections