Skip to content

Show me a chief executive who’s on five boards and who…

“Show me a chief executive who’s on five boards and who lends his or her name, prestige and time to 15 community activities — and I’ll show you a company that’s underperforming. A chief executive is paid to run the company. That’s the CEO’s job.” quote by Albert J. Dunlap
Download Open image
“Show me a chief executive who’s on five boards and who lends his or her name, prestige and time to 15 community activities — and I’ll show you a company that’s underperforming. A chief executive is paid to run the company. That’s the CEO’s job.”

Albert J. Dunlap

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A CEO who spreads himself thin across many boards and community roles often cannot focus on core company performance, leading to underachievement.

In simple terms: Too many commitments hurt company results.

Key Takeaway

Limit CEO focus to core duties.

Themes

leadership governance performance overextension focus

Mood

critical analytical

Type

Activity:1 Boards:1 Business:1 Ceo:1 Chief executive:1 Chief executives:1 Chiefs:1 Community:1 Company:1 Executive:1 Executives:1 Five:0 Jobs:0 Names:0 Paid:0 Prestige:0 Running:0 Show me:0 Shows:0 Time:0 Company Ceo:0 Underperforming Chief:0 Executive Paid:0

When to use this quote

  • board membership
  • community involvement
  • executive compensation
  • strategic focus

Key Concepts

corporate governance resource allocation stakeholder theory

Questions to Reflect On

  • How many boards can a CEO effectively serve?
  • What metrics reveal CEO distraction?
A Different Perspective

Overextension can dilute strategic impact.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Albert J. Dunlap

Explore all 2 Albert J. Dunlap quotes

More Activity quotes

Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes