Navigating the Gray Area: Defining Board and Executive Leadership Roles
Boards and executive teams are most effective when each group respects the other’s scope and authority. In theory, the distinction is simple: the board governs, and the executive leadership team leads and executes. In practice, however, blurred roles continue to be common in today’s complex and dynamic healthcare environment. This unclear area between board governance and executive leadership is a common source of tension that presents risks if not thoughtfully addressed. Ironically, much value can be found in the gray area as well. The trick is in clarifying complementary and collaborative roles.
This article explores the gray area that exists between board and executive leadership, making recommendations for how boards and leadership teams can navigate challenges while also seizing opportunities.
The article was originally published in ACHE’s Healthcare Executive, in partnership with The Governance Institute. Permission to reprint has been granted.
About the authors
Laura Orr
is Senior Partner and Global Board Advisory Leader at WittKieffer, where she partners with boards to strengthen governance and accelerate strategy execution. An experienced governance consultant, certified executive coach, and a former Chief Strategy and Governance Officer, Laura has both advised boards and served as the executive leader responsible for governance. Her work focuses on governance assessments, board and CEO succession planning, board development, board culture, and governance transformation, helping boards increase their impact during periods of growth, transition, and complexity.
Susan M. Snyder
is Executive Partner and Global Leadership Advisory Leader at WittKieffer and works closely with boards, CEOs, and executive teams on leadership transitions, succession, culture, and organizational transformation. Susan has coached numerous board directors, CEOs, and senior executives and is particularly known for her work at the intersection of succession, top-team effectiveness, leadership culture, and organizational performance. Her work spans leadership transitions at the board, CEO, and executive levels, helping organizations build the leadership capacity needed to navigate complexity and accelerate impact.
