September 16, 2026

Episode 204: Why Boards Aren’t Your Volunteer Management Team with Jim Brown

What does a healthy relationship between a CEO, leadership team, and board of directors actually look like? On this episode of The Future of Teamwork, Dane Groeneveld sits down with Jim Brown, Founder of OrgHealth and author of The Imperfect Board Member and The Imperfect CEO, to talk about the often misunderstood role of boards and what it takes to create healthier leadership dynamics.

Jim shares why even highly accomplished leaders can struggle when they step into the boardroom, what common mistakes board members make, and why great boards lead through thoughtful, provocative questions rather than simply telling management what to do.

Jim and Dane also explore the importance of bringing boards into strategic conversations before the plan is fully baked – which creates shared ownership, rather than treating approval as something final.

Finally, Jim explains why today’s leaders need to replace judgment with curiosity, become students of people, and pay closer attention to the impact of their behavior… not just their intentions. Jim then dives into his Ascent Model for organizational health, which identifies four key areas organizations need to develop

Whether you serve on a board, lead a company, or are building a team from the ground up, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at how clear roles, healthy collaboration, and a little humility can create stronger organizations.

🔗 Connect with Jim Brown on LinkedIn

🔗 Learn more about OrgHealth