The “imperial CEO” has long been extinct on the American business landscape, replaced by independent corporate boards of directors who closely monitor a team-oriented CEO and senior management, provide needed advice and counsel, and, when necessary, give clear direction on what actions should and should not be taken. Right? Well, not exactly.
It’s true that most public companies have done away with the imperial CEO, but I’ve encountered exceptions to that trend in my work with boards and CEOs. And while many of them are gone now, there are still those who rule the company with a command and control style.
