How to Get the Best from Your Directors

If you’re not getting what you need from your directors, then this is the video for you. Without a solid team of directors, you will bottleneck the growth of your business because you need other people to help you lead your business forward.

The bigger your business, the more complicated it becomes. The bigger your aspirations, the more important this becomes. Now, if you have a team of directors and you know deep down inside you’re not getting what you need from them, what are you going to do about it?

Well, I’ve got five tips that, in my experience, help align directors and get the best out of them.

1. Set Clear Outcomes

Most directors don’t have a crystal-clear understanding of what outcomes they are actually expected to deliver.

They might have a job description, but job descriptions contain tasks and responsibilities. They rarely set clear outcomes. It’s not enough to have a couple of conversations and hope they read your mind about what ‘good’ looks like.

Take the time to get really clear on the specific outcomes you need from each function and director. Write them down, discuss them, and align your directors to those outcomes.

Once you have those outcomes in place, establish KPIs so you and your directors can objectively measure whether those outcomes are being achieved.

For more insights into clarity and outcomes, explore Culture is Defined by What You Tolerate.

2. Focus on Working On the Business

Directors cannot be buried in the day-to-day. They are not well-paid managers. They are there to help drive the business forward through strategy and direction.

Work with your directors to create the space they need to focus on the business. If some are too bogged down, help them offload responsibilities so they can truly lead.

3. Build Accountability

Accountability is crucial in leadership. You need directors who:

• Take ownership of their specific functions.
• Hold themselves accountable.
• Hold each other accountable as a team.

Put proper business planning in place. A strong 90-day plan with priorities, goals, and milestones creates visibility and ensures directors stay on track.

Also, establish an effective meeting rhythm—leadership meetings for KPIs, planning sessions, and departmental meetings. These systems support accountability and ensure progress is tracked.

Discover how to Run an Effective Meeting to strengthen accountability.

4. Empower Decision-Making

Decision-making is at the heart of leadership. Empower your directors to make decisions without bottlenecking everything through you.

A useful tool here is the Decision Matrix. It outlines:

• What decisions a director can make autonomously.
• What decisions they can make with you informed afterwards.
• What decisions require your approval first.

Review and update this annually, giving directors more autonomy as they develop. This encourages ownership and speeds up progress.

Learn more about effective leadership in Master the Art of Leadership.

5. Develop Leadership Skills

Your directors are not just technical experts; they are leaders. They must inspire, be role models, and represent company values.

Invest in their leadership development through:

• One-to-one coaching.
• External training if necessary.
• Regular reviews and performance check-ins.

As teams grow, your directors need the skills to manage managers and maintain a strong culture. They must walk the talk and embody your company values.

Final Thoughts

Put all of these elements together—clear outcomes, strategic focus, accountability, empowered decision-making, and leadership development—and you’ll build a genuinely effective team of directors.

When your directors step up, you can finally step back, confident you have a leadership team capable of driving your business forward.

For more insights, visit Mind Your Own Business or subscribe to Marco Soares on YouTube.

And remember—your time is precious. Don’t let misaligned directors hold your business back.