Board dynamics from the chair – the unconscious at work

This qualitative research explores the lived experiences of how international board chairs, of private and publicly listed organisations, experience board dynamics. Their lived experience of board dynamics is considered in the context of virtual working and at multiple levels including; the board (group) as a whole level, between organisations (at an inter-organisational level), and at a broader social and political level. It also explores how international board chairs are personally contained (emotionally supported) and how a systems psychodynamic lens may assist in the understanding of board dynamics. My interest in this research originates from my somewhat limited experience of boards, and professional experience working in and consulting/coaching to international organisations. The research was conducted during a significant point in time in history, when international boards and organisations had recently battled for survival, or had extended periods of crisis management, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The qualitative research uses systems psychodynamics to consider the unconscious aspects of how international board chairs experience board dynamics. Data was derived from seven semi structured interviews with international board chairs working across a range of industry sectors in the USA, Europe, and Asia pacific. Hermeneutic phenomenological analysis was used to gain a sense of the whole data and any patterns or themes. Grounded theory was used as the research method to develop theory and an idea from the research data.