How to Be a Great Board Chair with Giselle McLachlan

Today on the Take on Board podcast, I’m speaking with Giselle McLachlan about being a great board chair, and I’m delighted to welcome her back after her earlier appearance in the early days of video. Giselle is a reformed lawyer based in Wanaka on New Zealand’s South Island, and through her work at Grounded Governance, she coaches, teaches, facilitates workshops, and supports boards, particularly chairs, in doing their role well.

We discuss why chairing is often misunderstood as simply “running the meeting,” why finishing on time isn’t the measure of good chairing, and the importance of the work before and after meetings. Giselle shares her “five Ts” framework—time, tone, talent, teamwork, and tikanga/traditions—and offers practical examples, including board connection practices, expectations for pre-reading, and how to manage differing director preferences.

Links and Resources

Giselle on LinkedIn

Giselle's website - Grounded Governance

Giselle's been on the podcast before: Episode 328: Giselle McLachlan wants to help prepare your boardroom for the future

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