The Secret Traits of Exceptional Directors
By Mary Cameron
Mary Cameron is the chair of Habitat for Humanity International, chair of a private lumber company and sits on two other boards. She has served on over 40 public, private, crown and not-for-profit boards. She’s also a former CEO of three different private companies and a former deputy minister.
Throughout my career, I’ve served on over 40 boards, working with countless directors and chairs. While most were competent and effective, only a select few truly stood out as great. This led me to wonder: what exactly sets the great directors apart from the good ones?
Many people assume that having integrity, experience, and knowledge is enough to make someone a great director. While these qualities are crucial, they are not the whole story. What truly elevates a director to greatness? After years of observation and reflection, especially through my work at Ozone, I've identified four key values that are essential for any director or leader to be truly outstanding.
As a baseline, it is critical that a director has integrity with a lot of experience in senior roles. They have to be willing to invest time and thought into knowing and understanding the business as well as the dynamics of the organization. And of course, they must understand the different roles of governance and management.
But I have seen people with all of this and they still don't qualify as a great director. Not all great executives or leaders make great directors. What is it that elevates a director from good to great?
Through our work at Ozone, we have come to recognize that there are certain values that have to be present for an individual to be a great director or chair.
1. Wisdom: Beyond Knowledge
We have all known people who know a lot. But sometimes despite all that knowledge, they aren’t right in their conclusion about what choice to make. Wisdom is about taking knowledge and experience and being able to translate it into insight.
A wise leader knows when to speak up and when to listen. They can sense when the group needs a push and when to move on. They understand how to build support and encourage learning, and how to let the room own the outcomes.
Oftentimes people make the assumption that lots of experience creates wisdom. In my view, experience is valuable, but the differentiator is when an individual can sift through the experience for the learnings that are relevant in the current situation. And even more importantly, to know when a past experience does not apply!
Wisdom also includes the ability to recognize the value in voices that may not be the loudest in the room. I recall a time when a young, less experienced board member had a brilliant idea that was nearly overlooked. A wise director recognized the potential in that idea and encouraged the board to explore it further. This led to a successful new initiative for the organization. An ability to see value where it is overlooked by others is a valuable ability.
A wise director has a lot of knowledge and experience and also the ability to understand people. They can connect dots in a way that helps others understand. They can help a group move towards articulating a clear future and creating alignment around that future. True wisdom is rare and a prized attribute in a director.
2. Curiosity: The Drive to Explore
Great directors are always curious. They love learning, exploring new ideas, and seeing things from different perspectives. This curiosity drives creativity and innovation. I remember working with a director who constantly brought in new ideas from outside industries. His curiosity about how other sectors solved problems often sparked creative solutions that we hadn’t considered before.
A curious director doesn’t just accept things as they are—they look at old challenges in new ways. One board I served on faced a significant shift in market trends. While some directors were hesitant to change course, a particularly curious director pushed us to explore new technologies that eventually led to a major competitive advantage. Her willingness to ask "What if?" helped the organization stay ahead of the curve.
In welcoming new ideas and reaching out to explore what changes are on the horizon the curious director can help the board and organization be ready for change, learn together and strengthen team dynamics. Be it technology, demographics or economic shifts, curiosity rather than fear better enables the team to be prepared and adapt to the change.
3. Courage: The Strength to Stand Alone
Eventually, in every board room there comes a time when a director is alone in their view. It takes courage to speak up against the majority. But this is often exactly when that voice needs to be heard. I’ve seen this play out many times. For example, during a critical decision one director stood alone in opposing the majority’s view. Despite the pressure to conform, he laid out his concerns clearly and calmly. In the end, his perspective led to a more cautious approach, which saved the organization from a potentially disastrous loss.
Courage also involves admitting when you’re wrong or when you don’t know something. I recall a time when a seasoned director, known for his expertise, admitted in a meeting that he didn’t have the answer to a complex problem we were facing. His admission didn’t diminish his leadership; instead, it opened up the conversation and invited others to contribute their ideas, leading to a stronger, more collaborative solution. Saying "I don't know" or "I was wrong" is a powerful admission and requires vulnerability, but it also fosters trust and transparency within the board. This kind of courage can create an environment where everyone feels safe to share their thoughts and take risks, ultimately leading to better decision-making.
4. Humility: The Power of Staying Grounded
With all these great traits—wisdom, curiosity, and courage—it can be easy to become overconfident. That’s why humility is so important. Humility keeps a leader grounded, reminding them that they don’t have all the answers. Humility gives them the desire to listen to understand. To learn from others. A rare, but such an attractive trait!
I once worked with a chair who, despite his significant achievements, always made a point to listen carefully to others. He would often say, "I’m here to learn just as much as I’m here to lead." This humble approach made him approachable and fostered a collaborative atmosphere where everyone’s voice was valued. Even when he disagreed with a suggestion, he did so with respect and an open mind, always willing to consider different viewpoints.
In my experience, when all else is equal, these four values—wisdom, curiosity, courage, and humility are what make a great director. They are the traits that enable a leader to not only guide but also inspire and uplift those around them.
When I step back and think about the boards that have been outstanding, these values can also describe those boards.
Do you want to learn more about being an exceptional director? Explore our High-Performing Board program and/or our approach to Board Design.
