DIRECTOR DIALOGUES

Director Dialogues engage the directors of companies and organisations in dialogues about important management issues. They are designed and delivered by the Faculty of Independent Strategic Management Experts in association with the Strategic Management Forum and other partner organisations.

Each session is facilitated by a topic expert who will lead with a short presentation, then engage in a semi-structured exploration of the related issues. The highly interactive dialogues will be practical in focus. Their aim will be to provide the participating directors with deep insights and actionable ideas.

All sessions are held under The Chatham House Rule, to encourage confidence in the sharing of relevant and meaningful contributions by all peer group participants.

Upcoming Events include:

Fulfilling the Board’s Value Creation Mandate - London, Nov 9th

The role of the board and the practice of corporate governance have entered troubled waters in recent times. Despite many recommendations for ‘best practice’, the steady stream of failures and missteps suggest less may be known about how boards should operate than is often claimed. 

For example, is the primary role of the board the protection of shareholder interests, as many statutes, corporate governance codes and commentators assert; or is it the pursuit of performance goals and the creation of value? And how might this be achieved? 

Many claims and recommendations have been advanced over the years, yet explanations of how boards can or should fulfil their value creation mandate have remained elusive. It is little wonder that accountability for business performance is diffuse and confused.  

Dr Peter Crow, an expert in corporate governance will explore this important topic in a half-day session organised by the Strategic Management Forum (SMF) in association with the Non-Executive Directors' Association (NEDA).

In addition, Crow will share details of a framework based on insights from his latest research. It provides practical guidance for directors intent on understanding the value creation role of the board as they take their companies intentionally into the future. 

Peter Crow holds a doctorate in corporate governance and strategic management, and he is a chartered director with considerable non-executive director experience. In addition, he has advised boards and directors in many industry sectors and countries. He, therefore, has much to offer and his suggestions should be taken very seriously.

Places for this half-day event are strictly limited. Request Details by email: [email protected] (Please use email title subject title "DD Boards")

Leading by Coaching - London, Nov 23rd

Nick Marson will introduce Leading by Coaching which, "transforms managers into high impact leaders capable of engaging employees in pursuit of high levels of personal achievement and greater levels of productivity, leading to sustainable success for the firm. It also helps companies replace the outdated management practices and toxic corporate cultures which are responsible for low levels of employee engagement and poor productivity".

The traditional dominant styles of leadership are not working. Just 13% of the global workforce is really engaged in their work - a big problem given up to 70% of the operating expenses of businesses and organisations is the cost of people employed.

In this context, it should be no surprise that annual growth in global productivity is down by 84% since 1980 (compared to the average rate between 1950-1970). Nor that the return on assets of firms declined 75% (1965-2009), or the life expectancy of firms had declined from 75 years to around 15 years in less than half a century. And such trends are similar in many countries.

The modern business faces many challenges and disruptive forces resulting in continuous changes to workplace systems and structures. They are also changing job requirements and the expectations of both employers and employees. As a result, the way employees are managed and developed must also change. Leadership needs to be less about management and control, and more about employee development and coaching. It also requires leaders to be excellent communicators. And effective conversations are affective conversations. But many managers lack the affective conversation skills they need to become real leaders.

This session organised by the Strategic Management Forum, with support from the Non-Executive Directors' Association, is hosted by workplace design experts Steelcase.

Marson is the Founder and CEO of Leading by Coaching. He helps senior executives fulfil their true potential by embracing the leadership style that is fit for purpose given today's business realities. His approach is based on a deep understanding of emotional intelligence and the latest neuroscience, plus a high-level of understanding of multi-cultural factors and of skills and techniques in Affective Communication. He holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and training from the University of Wales and is an International Coaching Federation advanced level executive coach.

 Places for this half-day event are strictly limited. Request Details by email: [email protected] (Please use email title subject title "DD Leading")

Surviving Digital Disruption - London, Dec 12th

Three former executives of The Bosch Group, a leading global supplier of technology and services, recently established the consulting firm co-shift and co-authored Future Legends: Business in Hyper-Dynamic Markets.

They do not just add to the number of voice arguing businesses must become radically more adaptable and innovative than that are today, they also provide practical guidance on how to make the changes. They also make clear, conventional theories and practices in business management are dangerously outdated. See my review of their book, or read an extended extract.

Delegates will be able to choose between the morning or afternoon sessions on December 12th. The events are organised by the Strategic Management Forum with the support of the Non-Executive Directors' Association, and are hosted by Taylor Vinters, an international law firm “supporting the businesses which drive the innovation economy".

Places for these half-day events are strictly limited. Request Details by email: [email protected] (Please use email title subject title "DD Digital").