Managing Challenging Boards and Difficult Directors

Most directors will, at some point, serve on a board whose performance suffers from strained collective dynamics, a difficult director, or both. Tension, and sometimes open conflict, is common. In PwC’s 2026 Annual Corporate Directors Survey, 55% of U.S. public-company directors said at least one board colleague should be replaced. Yet, in the same survey, 49% of directors said their board assessments lack candour. What can a chair and individual directors actually do about it?

At this ICD BC Chapter in-person breakfast panel discussion, experienced directors and board chairs will share practical insights and address audience questions on:

· Recognizing the problem: common patterns of difficult behaviour, from the dominant voice to the disengaged director, and how to tell constructive dissent from disruption.

· The chair’s toolkit: practical ways to restore cohesion and address a disruptive or underperforming director.

· The role of individual directors: what each board member can, and should not, do when a colleague is hurting board performance, including when the problem is the chair.

· Evaluation and accountability: tools and processes to assess board and individual director effectiveness and act on the results, including what boards can and cannot do when removal rests with shareholders, members or an appointing body.

· Competing interests: how directors nominated or appointed by a particular shareholder, stakeholder or government should balance that relationship with their duty to the organization as a whole.

· Culture, roles and prevention: building a positive board culture, a healthy board-management relationship that respects their distinct roles, and how to prevent problems before they start.

This is a conversation by directors, for directors. Panelists will draw on real-world experience on corporate, not-for-profit and public-sector boards that have worked through challenging dynamics, conflict and difficult members.

Registration and Breakfast: 7:30-8:00 am

Session start time: 8:00 am

Session end time: 9:30 am