BOARDROOM NOTE-TAKING DANGERS — THE TALE OF KAVANAUGH’S CALENDAR
Remember what you ate for lunch five years ago today, or your schedule on this date 10 years ago? That’s the level of detail corporate board members may be quizzed on in high-stakes corporate litigation. But, as explored in an article in the October issue of online monthly Boardroom INSIDER, many directors’ note-taking habits increase the dangers.
The September U.S. Senate hearings for Supreme Court candidate Brett Kavanaugh “offer a bizarre example” on this, writes BI publisher and business speaker Ralph Ward. The ugly “he said/she said” testimony included 35-year old calendar jottings, which were closely parsed for hidden meaning and intent.
Ward notes that board members can likewise be compelled to revisit every scrap of info from a long-forgotten board meeting — and this can include their personal notes. “Every word, every scratch of the pen, is a source for cross examination… why did you make a question mark beside this agenda item?” The power of director note-taking (and the danger of keeping those notes around) deserves more respect among board members, Ward cautions. “Do you have a good response for every jot you made in that long-ago board meeting? Most of us won’t.”
Other articles in the October issue include:
Ralph Ward’s Board Seeker is now out on audiobook.
5 ways smart CEOs communicate with their boards.
Family firms should consider “outside board apprenticeships.”
Q&A: How do I learn to lead a board?
— Here’s why you have more “board experience” than you think (and why your current resume hides it).
— How women can jump the career obstacles they face into the boardroom.
— Finding your board search mentors and networks.
— How board searches really work (and how to turn flaws in the process to your advantage).
— Gaining the attention of board contacts and search firms.
— Prepping for a board interview… and for your first board meeting.
