201. I’m so fancy (Condition #49: Formality)

If there’s any part of my overall vibe, and of season 4 of OMG in particular, that you find a bit annoying or immature or naïve or whatever, I bet it’s that I’ve got this general optimism that the business of corporate leadership can be more fun and less formal. Actually, it’s not just that it CAN be more fun and less formal, but also that it SHOULD be! As in, the formality of the status quo is working against good governance. I really, sincerely believe it. Trust me, I’m not trying to undermine the seriousness of the jobs of executives and directors. This is not a joke to me, and there are very real and important consequences to doing the job poorly. But honestly, that just makes me more confident that we’re on to something here. We have absolutely no evidence suggesting that the typical solemn formality of boardrooms is any good. And we have plenty of evidence from the science of decision-making that we should be experimenting and socializing and finding ways to create space for a diversity of approaches and perspectives. So, I suppose what I’m saying is that a defining characteristic of a great board is its willingness to let go of formality – even in the environment of a regular board meeting – when doing so will serve the decisions at hand. Do me a favour, start thinking now about how you might cultivate the conditions for a bit of play or wonder or experimentation at your next board meeting, even just for a few minutes.