How are directors prepared for the boardroom? What qualities and competencies are sought in new appointments to the board? These and other issues are crucial in creating a board that is going to help a company achieve its aims and play an active role in an organization's performance. This book dispels the myths surrounding board directors (for example, directors should be outward looking and only concentrate on the long term). It discusses what the essential skills are for a better board and how to acquire and develop them. The book is based on extensive surveys of directors, carried out for various professional bodies, including the Institute of Directors. It includes checklists to help in analyzing and influencing the directors' competence, and advises on overcoming the difficulty of advising staff more senior than the trainer.