Keep bias out of the board room

Are you a Gulf Coast executive about to make a big decision in the coming year that will dramatically affect your enterprise for years to come? Are you considering a dramatic increase or redirection to your staff? Are you reorganizing or moving your headquarters? Are you considering purchasing office or warehouse facilities? Will you expand to an additional geographical area beyond your present marketplace? Is a merger or acquisition in your future?

If you now have a soft smile on your face or at least a glimmer in your eye, you're probably enthusiastic about a major corporate strategy in the making. You'll certainly be soliciting input from your senior team. You might even decide to call the group together — depending upon staff size and their assumed depth of thinking — to develop a strategic course of action.

The lurking problem
Everyone among the leadership will enjoy the free-flowing discussion. The exchange of ideas in an open atmosphere of trust should always be encouraged.