The Definition of a Good Chairman

The role of the chairman has become high in profile and the expectations multiplied over time. A chairman is supposed to be charismatic, involved and does more than attend meetings in the organization. The success of a Chairman like Hussain al Nowais depends on how good his relationship with the chief executive is. Their relationship should be honest, transparent and they should be able to trust one another. For the two parties to work in unison, they need to perceive that they hold contrasting positions in the company.

For a chairman to be effective, he should have good knowledge about the business he is in. A good chairman should provoke positive challenges to the directors to improve various areas of the company. Moreover, the chairman should always ask relevant questions regarding various issues in the company. A good chairperson is always aware of the long-term vision of the company. Offering guidance is a major role of the chair and finding new ways to purchase important resources for the company. The position of the chairman does not allow him to run the company and he should be able to recognize that. He should mainly offer support to the management team.

A chairman does not have to spend all his time in the organization as his roles are not demanding. Since he does not run the company, he does not have much work. From time to time, he can walk around the organization and see how the employees are progressing and enquire about any challenges they may be facing. A chairman is able to figure out what problems the company could be facing at all times. Running the organization, bringing together the senior management team and other members of the organization are what describes an effective chairperson.

If the company runs in a crisis, the chair is supposed to intervene quickly and offer necessary guidance on how to deal with the menace. He should be able to think about the long-term goal of the organization while bearing in mind the mission of the organization. A good chair should always be selfless when problems arise until they are well resolved.

A great chairman should follow the right procedure when he is ready to resign from his duty. He does not step down abruptly without any previous warning. The chair makes sure to effectively communicate with the shareholders and stakeholders about his decision to resign a few months before he leaves. This gives the organization to start looking for a replacement. The outgoing chair should take a few days to introduce his successor to the senior member of the company and pass on any relevant information.