The Art of Chairing: How to Survive and Thrive as a First-Time Chair

By Brian Cavanagh

"This is a book for everyone who sits on a Board... This is essential reading for new and old Chairs alike..." - Sally Louden, former CEO of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

Becoming a board Chair for the first time is an experience that is both exciting and frightening. Luckily, The Art of Chairing is here to guide you along your chairing journey. Drawing from decades of hands-on experience in corporate, profit and non-profit sectors, Brian Cavanagh outlines everything a first-time chair needs to know. With the use of case studies and top tips, he distils the product of years of governance in a simple and companionable guide. New and old challenges in the world of governance, from Chair/CEO relations to AI, are discussed in detail to arrive at easy-to-understand solutions for the reader. No matter your level of chairing experience, this is the book for you.

Brian Cavanagh has over thirty years of experience in leadership and governance. He leads a mentoring and coaching consultancy specialising in board governance and strategic leadership development across all sectors. He was previously the Chair of NHS Lothian and Synaptik, along with being a Board Member of Foscadh Housing Association. He is also the author of Governing with Purpose, published in 2022.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1806058138
• ISBN13: 9781806058136
• Release Date: March 2026
• Publisher: Independent Publishing Network
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"