Powerful Questions That Every Strategically Aware CEO Must Ask

Governance Questions

• How can the chair and the chief executive work together productively?
• How can we improve attendance in meeting?
• Should staff attend board meetings?
• Should we rely on Robert's Rules of Order when running our board meetings?
• What are the key financial questions our board should ask?
• What decisions can the chair of the board make alone?
• What questions should we ask our potential board members?
• What should I do if I don't agree with a board decision?
• There is a small NGO who has recently employed and appointed the President of the Board in the role of Admin Officer for the organization. Is this “normal” practice, and what about conflict of interest/governance issues?
• The current President is resigning before the AGM. There is strong dissatisfaction within our Committee of Management with one of the Vice Presidents, so they would prefer not to automatically ask one of the VP’s to take over as Acting President as they are sure this person will assume the role by “strongly encouraging” the other two not to assume the role. How would this situation best be handled for an equitable outcome?

Strategic Questions

• How do I know that our strategic plan is actually strategic, and not just more of what we did last time (and didn't complete)?
• Should we involve the Board in strategic planning, and how?
• Who should be involved in the planning of the strategic plan?
• How do I respond to staff who complain that they can't do their existing job and implement the strategic plan?

Risk Questions

• What is the Boards role in Risk Management?
• How do I know the staff are managing risk?
• How do I turn risk to strategic advantage?
• What do I do when my organization views risk as a pain in the neck?
• The Board have told me to get a risk management plan. How do I start, and how can I make it easy yet robust?

Tough Situations Questions

• Handling a Difficult Board Member
• Removing an anticonscious Board Member
• How do you control emotions in the middle of a conflict?
• How do I let a staff member go (sacking is such an ugly word), whilst minimising the angst and trauma normally associated with this?
• How do I deal with a staff member who goes behind my back?