Board Dynamics – Curbing Bad Director Behavior

I hate to say this, but some startup boards end up having to deal with bad behavior from directors. What happens when board dynamics don’t seem to be going all that well? I’ve adopted the phrase “hacking the board” to reflect the fact that when it comes to early startups, dealing with a board is about making the best of a situation that cannot be fully controlled. There are hacks for planning and running a meeting and a checklist of expectations of board conduct. Now let’s discuss how to recognize some bad board behaviors and how to advise a CEO on corrective action before these behaviors undermine the success of the company.