Blog: Is There Too Much Civility in the Boardroom?

In his blog, IIA President and CEO Richard Chambers, CIA, QIAL, CGAP, CCSA, CRMA, shares his personal reflections and insights on the internal audit profession. Here’s an excerpt from his latest post:

Let’s face it, civility is in short supply in the 21st century. Whether in politics, social media, on the highway, or in line at a fast-food restaurant, common courtesy and respect are scarce commodities. One place that civility seems to be alive and well is in the boardroom. However, one has to ask: Is there too much civility in a place where members should bring a healthy dose of skepticism?

Common wisdom is that inspirational leadership is synonymous with great success. Many of the world’s most successful companies are associated with iconic leaders such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Jack Ma, and others.

However, the list of well-known organizations that suffered scandal in recent years because of management missteps is just as long, including Uber, Wells Fargo, Papa John’s, and Tesla. Certainly, the #MeToo movement has shown that successful organizations can suffer rapid and significant reputational damage when the human failings of their leaders are exposed.

My examination of high-profile governance failures in recent years has convinced me that, far too often, ineffective board oversight is at the root of corporate scandals. Too many boards are reluctant to question management. Too often, boards are content to say, “We hired a great CEO. We’re going to step back and let him or her do their job.”

Read the full InternalAuditor.org blog post from IIA President and CEO Richard Chambers.