Culture & Interpersonal Dynamics
You can have the right people in the room.
You can have clear roles, bylaws, and policies.
And still… the board doesn’t work.
Why? Because boards are not just governance structures. They are groups of people, navigating power, responsibility, disagreement, and trust - often while juggling full professional and personal lives.
Board culture is not a “soft” issue. It is the environment in which every decision is made.
Culture Is What Happens Between Agenda Items
Board culture shows up in subtle but powerful ways:
Who speaks — and who doesn’t
How disagreement is handled
Whether questions are welcomed or shut down
How conflict is addressed (or avoided)
Whether meetings feel energizing or draining
These dynamics shape whether boards operate as thoughtful leadership bodies or as collections of individuals moving in parallel.
The Cost of Avoidance
Many boards avoid addressing interpersonal dynamics out of fear of conflict, discomfort, or fear of damaging relationships. But avoidance has a cost.
Over time, unspoken tensions erode trust, disengagement increases, and decision-making becomes either rushed or stalled. Addressing culture directly is not about assigning blame. It’s about creating shared norms that support respectful, productive collaboration.
Psychological Safety Enables Governance
Boards function best when members feel:
Safe asking questions
Comfortable expressing dissent
Confident their perspectives will be respected
Psychological safety does not mean agreement. It means that disagreement can occur without fear of retribution or dismissal.
Without it, boards default to surface-level consensus and miss opportunities for deeper insight and better outcomes.
Culture Requires Design
Healthy board culture does not emerge by accident. It requires:
Demonstrated respect
Clear expectations for behavior
Intentional facilitation
Willingness to name and address patterns
Leadership that models curiosity, humility, and accountability
Culture work is ongoing. It evolves as boards grow, change membership, and face new challenges. But when boards invest in how they work together, they create the conditions for sustained effectiveness.
