CEO and Board Chair Partnership Guide

The relationship that makes or breaks the org.

When the CEO and board chair are aligned, the board mostly runs itself. When they're not, everything else gets harder. This guide is honest about what the relationship looks like when it works, what the early signs of drift are, and how to have the two conversations most CEO-chair pairs avoid.

What’s inside

• The five conversations every CEO and board chair should have in their first ninety days
• A one-page working-agreement template covering communication, decisions, and escalation
• Guidance on the transition when a new board chair takes over mid-CEO-tenure
• Notes on the signal that the relationship isn't working and what to do next

You may not need this if: Your CEO-chair relationship is clear and productive — don't add process to it.