At People for Purpose, we invest more than 80 hours in every CEO appointment we make.
But our work does not stop there because finding the right leader is only half the job.
Supporting new leaders beyond the appointment is fundamentally important. Put simply, you’ve got to support them after they get the job.
Here is how Chairs and Boards can set their CEOs up for success:
1. Create a rhythm of real conversation
Move beyond operational updates.
Build regular, reflective check-ins that explore what is energising, what is weighing heavily, and what decisions are on hold.
An Energy/Impact Map can help visualise where their time is going and what needs to shift.
2. Encourage pause and perspective
Leaders need space to step back and reset.
That might mean coaching, peer forums, values-aligned courses, retreats or sabbaticals.
Even a small “Leadership Voucher” can give your CEO the freedom to invest in their own growth and wellbeing. This could take the form of covering the costs of a professional development event, or other training.
3. Treat leadership support as strategy
Supporting your CEO is not a nice-to-have. It is an organisational performance driver.
Add leadership growth to KPIs, dedicate time at board meetings to leadership wellbeing, and listen without jumping straight to solutions.
Board-level questions to consider:
Supporting a leader beyond the appointment is not an all or nothing proposition. It is an ongoing process that can be improved over time. But consultation and reflection are key. We recommend asking the following questions at board-level.
- When did we last talk about how we support our CEO as a leader?
- Do we have a shared understanding of leadership wellbeing?
- What is in our budget to grow leadership capability?
Our Leadership Support Framework:
At People for Purpose, we see leadership support as an essential part of board effectiveness. To make this practical, we have developed a simple framework we use with boards and Chairs to guide their conversations and planning. This model helps ensure leaders are not only appointed but sustained in their roles.
- Connect – Build trust through regular, honest Chair and CEO conversations.
- Grow – Offer access to coaching, peer learning and mentoring.
- Sustain – Create space for reflection and renewal.
People for Purpose proudly partners with Leadership Space, a trusted consultancy helping CEOs, teams and boards to grow capability and lead with courage. Together, we believe great leadership is not just appointed, it is supported.
