1 / 3Boards That Lead: A Guide to Board Leadership
Guide Leadership: Boards That Lead by Ram Charan, Dennis Carey, and Michael Useem examines when directors should lead, partner with management, or avoid operational overreach. It covers CEO selection and succession, board composition, dysfunction, ethics, risk, and practical checklists for directors and executives.
At a glance
- Explains the balance between board leadership, partnership with management, and restraint from day-to-day operations.
- Topics include CEO appointment and succession planning, director recruitment, board dysfunction, ethics, and risk.
- The listing describes eighteen checklists intended for board directors moving beyond a monitoring role.
Reference price: $45.99
Price checked: Nov 13, 2026
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Pros and cons
Pros
- Addresses practical governance decisions, including CEO succession and how directors work with executives.
- Customer feedback highlights the book's informative ideas and case studies, which may help readers connect governance concepts to examples.
Technical specifications
9 specifications| Publisher | Harvard Business Review Press |
|---|---|
| Publication date | Dec 10 2013 |
| Edition | Illustrated |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 304 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1422144054 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-13 | 978-1422144053 |
| Weight listed | 524 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 15.57 x 2.79 x 23.5 cm |
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Board directors and chairs seeking guidance on their role in company leadership.
- CEOs and senior executives who work closely with a board.
- Readers studying corporate governance, board effectiveness, ethics, or succession planning.
Less suited to
- Readers seeking a general management guide unrelated to boards or corporate governance.
- Readers who need current regulatory guidance rather than a book published in 2013.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
63% 63% - 4 stars
29% 29% - 3 stars
5% 5% - 2 stars
2% 2% - 1 star
1% 1%
Customer feedback describes the book as helpful and informative, highlighting its ideas and case studies. That may suit board members and executives looking for applied governance discussion, while the positive reception does not establish how current its advice is for today's regulatory environment.
Positive themes
- Customers describe the content as informative and insightful.
- Feedback highlights case studies and examples as useful learning aids.
Frequently asked questions
What is Boards That Lead about?
It discusses how boards and executives can share leadership, including when directors should take charge, collaborate with management, or stay out of operational decisions.
What governance topics does the book cover?
The listing describes material on defining company direction, CEO selection and succession, recruiting directors, addressing board dysfunction, ethics, and risk.
How long is this edition?
The listed print length is 304 pages, and the edition is identified as Illustrated.
Who may find this book useful?
Its stated audience includes people working in boardrooms and executive suites, as well as readers interested in corporate governance.
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