11 | The Big Five Offenders in the Boardroom

In this episode of Build Better Boards, host Mitch Majeski is joined by Dr. Keri Jacobs and Richard Fagerlin to identify and unpack five common behaviors that derail board effectiveness. They explore how these patterns show up in the boardroom and offer practical ways directors can self-assess and adjust.

• The vocal minority is the board member who persistently raises the same issue, often driven by personal passion rather than board-wide relevance. This can stall discussions and frustrate fellow directors.

• The silent majority refers to directors who observe but rarely contribute, often withholding questions or perspectives due to discomfort or deference to more vocal members.

• The personal agenda player brings forward issues that serve a specific interest, such as their own region or external influence, rather than the entire cooperative.

• The disruptor introduces conflict or derails conversations, sometimes intentionally or as a reaction to internal or external stress. This behavior can be confused with healthy dissent if not examined carefully.

• The checked-out director appears disengaged or uninterested, which may be a result of fatigue, frustration, or the compounding effect of the other four behaviors.

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