A recent report from RHR International asserts that the best boards confront cultural issues and tendencies head on. The top factors that directors most often cited as contributing to the making of a great board were the qualities of boardroom dialogue and debate (88%) and the ability to ask the tough questions of management (77%). Conversely, the greatest factors directors mentioned as undermining board effectiveness were lack of candor in the boardroom (77%) and lack of mutual respect and a collaborative culture (68%). (RHR International LLP is a global firm of management psychologists and consultants.)

These are the same factors that contribute to and impede success on projects; and more broadly economic growth within communities. Whether we use the label “culture” or some other word, it is how well we get the relationships part of working on teams that allows us to successfully use the Lean tools and practices.