The board members deliberated on the importance of understanding a candidate’s management style, focusing on how they would handle disagreements or conflicts within the executive team, especially during major decision-making processes. This line of questioning is seen as important to ensuring that potential candidates possess the ability to manage stress and lead effectively. The board also emphasized the necessity of empowering department leaders to make decisions independently, which is regarded as a sign of a capable organization not reliant on constant input from the CEO or general manager.

Additionally, the board discussed the significance of engaging with various stakeholders, ensuring open communication, and involving the board in strategic decision-making. They agreed on modifying a question to better understand a candidate’s approach to stakeholder engagement, which includes interaction with teams, customers, and community policymakers.

The discussion also touched on evaluating how candidates deal with unexpected challenges. The board considered asking candidates to describe a time when they took a significant business risk, what led to that decision, and what the outcome was. This inquiry aims to gauge a candidate’s ability to handle surprises and challenges effectively.

Finally, the meeting concluded with plans to enter an executive session to further discuss next steps in the general manager search process.