Enter the Boardroom with Nurole 135. Dr. Margaret Heffernan (2/2): How boards make the best decisions: agendas, wilful blindness and super chickens
Aug 13, 2025
Dr. Margaret Heffernan, an author and former CEO, dives deep into key topics like balancing flexibility with rigidity in board meetings and the importance of crafting effective agendas. She highlights the dangers of wilful blindness, explaining how even smart groups can overlook obvious issues. Margaret also discusses the lessons learned from the collaborative spirit of the Human Genome Project compared to unhealthy competition. Finally, she shares practical tips on questioning and listening to enhance decision-making in boardrooms.
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Triage Agenda Items Before Meetings
- Use a triage algorithm: is it in-scope this period, does it need a paper, and does it need everyone present?
- If not, write a paper, form a small group, or postpone to a later period.
Prioritise Big Decisions Early
- Put the most important, complex decisions at the start of the agenda when people are freshest.
- Save routine paperwork for the end so the board gives its full attention to strategic issues.
Effectiveness Over Efficiency
- Aim for effective use of board time rather than pure efficiency; novel problems need deliberation.
- Efficiency suits routine tasks, but getting the best outcome should guide unfamiliar decisions.
