The Myth of the Perfect Board Director

By Kirsten Smith, Chartered Governance Professional

Boards often talk about finding the perfect director — someone with financial acumen, legal knowledge, industry expertise, strategic vision, and strong interpersonal skills. The reality is that no such person exists.

What boards actually need is a collective capability — a group of directors whose skills, experiences and perspectives complement one another. The question is not whether any individual director is perfect, but whether the board as a whole has what it needs.

A skills matrix is a useful starting point, but it is only part of the picture. Effective boards also need the right culture, the right dynamics, and the right chair to bring it all together.

A board review can help you understand what your board currently has and what it needs.