Seven memorable disciplines that transform how boards govern, now fully updated 

Now in its 20th Anniversary Edition, The Imperfect Board Member distills the fundamentals of board work into seven disciplines presented through a narrative approach that readers can absorb cover-to-cover in just a few hours. Written by Jim Brown, USA Today bestselling author of The Imperfect CEO, Founding Partner at OrgHealth, and a board consultant since 1995, this new edition updates the original fable while adding significant new content. 

New to this edition are a foreword by Patrick Lencioni, a deep-dive on Governance Excellence, and a chapter examining changes in board operations over twenty years based on Brown’s interviews with CEOs and chairs. The seven disciplines are designed as mnemonics, enabling directors to recall and apply them in real time. 

The author directly tackles, in compelling narrative form, the central challenge faced by all board members: managing the human relationships that make boards healthy or unhealthy. The book is packed with straightforward tools, principles, lessons, and applications you can implement immediately in any corporate, nonprofit, public, or faith-based board. 

You’ll also find: 

• A narrative style that replaces dry academic governance writing with concise, engaging storytelling designed to hold attention 
• A fully updated recommended reading list reflecting new paradigms and thought leadership in board governance 
• Practical mnemonic frameworks that simplify complex governance concepts into seven disciplines directors can apply daily 

Board members across public corporations, venture capital, family-owned businesses, charities, and nonprofits will find direct, practical governance guidance in this book. Whether you are a long-serving director, a new member, a chair, or a CEO seeking a healthier partnership with your board, these seven disciplines apply. 

JIM BROWN is the Founder of OrgHealth and the creator of the widely adopted Seven Disciplines of Governance Excellence. For over thirty years, he has worked with hundreds of boards and executive teams across corporate, private, and mission-driven organizations—helping them move from oversight to real stewardship. A former Consulting Partner with The Table Group, Jim advises leaders across North America and speaks at governance and leadership conferences. He is the author of The Imperfect Board Member and The Imperfect CEO—books that have sparked what is being called the Imperfect Leadership Movement, inviting leaders to replace performance-driven posturing with clarity, courage, and shared ownership.