Board chair leadership archetypes

A board chair’s effectiveness can dramatically impact an organization’s trajectory. A strong chair facilitates an environment for a CEO to maximize their potential, propelling a credit union toward achieving strategic goals at an accelerated pace. Conversely, a weak chair premises a CEO’s mediocrity, leading to subpar organizational performance.

This article frames the impact and criticality of the board chair role with relatable archetypes to call upon when the situation arises.

Firstly, it is important to note that the rules and responsibilities of the chair position are more similar than dissimilar from organization to organization. However, how the role is enacted—or how the role could be inhabited—is informed by a number of variables, including the sophistication or maturity of the organization’s strategy, which phase of leadership succession (whether it’s the CEO or the board) they are in, and the credit union’s financial performance. Regardless, it is the incumbent chair’s role to facilitate progress (What Are Your Board’s Historically Unmentionable Topics?).

 

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