INSIDE THE BOARDROOM : How Behaviour Trumps Rationality

Loved the writing style - gripping like a thriller. Loved the combination of secondary research and primary real life experience of the corporate stalwart behind the book. It's written in 3Rd person by Tulsi Jayakumar, on behalf of R. Gopalakrishnan. Mesmerised at the breadth & depth of coverage or call it longitudinal in terms of years (There are references to events from back in the 18th century to current times eg the case of Byju's), lateral in terms of diversity of industries, types of enterprise (by ownership, profit/non profit). Despite the wide canvas covered, the way the writer manages to bring it all together and present it as long enough to be just a weekend read is very impressive. There are references to the two mighty Indian epics and their characters, the Bhagwad Gita,quotes from The Holy Bible, from classics such as The Pilgrim's Progress. It will need a re-read to soak it all in again. The book is meant for just about anyone looking for a good informative, enthralling weekend read, not just those with corporate ambitions. If you ask for one word/concept that has stayed with me from the book it's Obliquity. In the book it's mentioned in the context of profit seeking being the sole goal of a for-profit enterprise vs focus on serving the community & other stakeholders with healthy financial outcomes coming through as a by-product. Quite like The Credo guiding business, which my ex colleagues from J&J would identify with. I think like most good concepts, it has wider implications in day to day life, but application of that will need a lot of added reflection.

One of the finest book on the functioning of Board of Directors. Practical approach to perform the designated role with commitment, discipline and independence. A must.

Very well scripted book by Mr Gopalkarishnan and Mr Jayakumar, with excellent illustrations on boards functioning in companies. The brings out the importance of collaborative teamwork, constructive dissonance, guiding the CEO and the leadership team, help navigating transition during the new CEO succession process, providing continuous value over the long term amid the dynamic business landscape.Relevant and useful for those aspiring to join boards as independent directors, as also existing board members to engineer transformations

A very well researched and written book as is always expected from RG ! To begin with the book is relatively short (under 200 pages with comfortable font !) and a very easy and interesting read. It is full of examples both global and closer to home to lucidly explain the issues being raised. If corporates have to be built as institutions that will stand the test of time then the behaviour in their Boardrooms is what will finally determine that outcome. Financial outcomes both good and bad will only be a result of behaviour in the Boardroom. It explains very lucidly and through real life examples as to how governance of a company board is way more than just a focus on financial numbers. There are many soft signals of an impending crisis in a company and how it is important to read these signals . What role does the culture in the Board room have and how does the interaction between the Board members influence the decision making of a Board? The book would be useful not only for Board Directors and corporate leaders but also for any common investor. With the stock market and private company stock now an important avenue for investment for the average citizen, the attributes of Board Directors and the quality of Board interaction will be of crucial importance to one and all. The book just might make one rethink the preconceived notions one has of a Company ! I must say I immensely enjoyed reading the book.

Great learnings about board practices from an experienced and successful practitioner, who also refers the reader to other sources of contemporary thinking on the subject, outside this book. Key takeaway appears in the final chapter with the 'fly on the wall' concept. I could relate it to a coach or evaluation facilitator role. Overall great read.

“Inside the Boardroom" delves deep into the intricacies of human behavior within the roles of board members and executive management. It navigates the practical realities of board member performance and examines the intricate relationship between the board and the executive management.The book draws extensively from global and Indian business scenarios, including examples from giants like General Electric, post-Jack Welch era, Theranos, Satyam, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank, Tata Group, HUL, among others."Inside the Boardroom" is an exceptional read that leverages the extensive experience of Mr. R. Gopalakrishnan alongside the academic expertise of Prof. Tulsi Jayakumar. It is a valuable resource for aspiring directors and academicians working in the field of corporate governance.This book not only sheds light on the nuances of boardroom dynamics but also serves as a guide for navigating the complex world of corporate governance in an ever-evolving business landscape.

Insightful points related to boardroom dynamics. Humans being creation of emotion gets swayed by it and take not so rational decisions creating a difficult situation.

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