Thread by @NaijaFlyingDr

Just finished a team meeting that made me reflect on something Warren Buffet said in his 2002 annual report on peer pressure & corporate boards.

He admitted that even he the Oracle of Omaha, the Oga at the very top, at one point the richest man in the world, boss of bosses...

Sometimes couldn't talk on board when bad decisions were being made because he didn't want to rock the boat.

So he chose politeness and liability over potential animosity.

He people to like him. He didn't want to be seen as disagreeable despite the fact that everyone would have respected his opinion because of his stature and achievements.

These highlighted three main issues in my which I will treat one by one

1. Crucial conversations
2. Corporate Governance
3. Women and wealth

One of my favorite books is called Crucial conversations by Joseph Grenny et al.

His research shows how an ability to have emotionally taxing & difficult discussions without causing offence is a skill that nearly all super successful executives have. Almost like a prerequisite.

Luckily it's a skill that can be learned...like almost anything else.
Talented communicators are able to speak honestly without offending people.

To be totally frank,but do it without causing upset.

Thats what effective crucial conversations are about:

That was actually my point about crucial conversations. Now onto corporate governance. I have had to speak up at board meetings when I disagree.

I have also had to develop a lot of confidence to do that. I analyse numbers, trends and spreadsheets very quickly..

I just see the way statistics fit together in a way that perhaps others don't. And I am able to keep numbers in my head for a long period of time. Reading and interpreting data is like a hobby for me. So it's easy for me to justify my assertions with hard data on a whim.

But many people work on their "gut". How do those people make their points in a boardroom without feeling like they are being contrarian?

We all get into situations where we have to make decisions with less data than we would like to have.

How many board members actually feel confident enough to speak up on behalf of shareholders?? Especially in the light of almighty Warren Buffet saying that sometimes he choose peace instead of violence. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

The third point is about likeability and women. Power and money makes men more likeable and eligible for marriage. But women less likeable and eligible for marriage.

Even Warren Buffet with all his power still wanted people to like him. Its a fundamental human need. Do we women sometimes make financial decisions that would make us more likeable instead of wealthier?

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