Executive leadership is as stiff as a board

By Jonathan Hime

Business is changing fast, yet many FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 boards are stuck in a time warp. Old-school, white, male, elitist, hierarchical and dogmatic, boards are all too often traditional in attitude, rigid in outlook and restricted in vision. The recipe for corporate success in the 21^st century is largely behavioural and centres on openness, values and people. It is time for boards to break the mould and get in touch with their softer side.    

Open arms, open minds

The right behaviour starts at the very top. Lord Allen - non-executive chairman at Global Radio Group, ISS and 2 Sisters Food Group and formerly CEO at Granada and ITV - is one example of a chairman who sets the right tone, seeing his role as mentor to, rather than tormentor of, the CEO.