Cattywampus Conversations
Every boardroom has its moments. When the meeting goes off the rails, the dynamic shifts, or the conversation spirals into chaos. In other words, when things go cattywampus.
It might be a last-minute agenda change, a director blindsiding the CEO, or tensions bubbling up after months of avoiding an issue. Whatever the cause, it’s uncomfortable, unpredictable, and can derail decision-making fast.
So, what do you do when the boardroom goes sideways? Here are three moves that I’ve seen work well to bring things back on track, without losing your cool or your credibility.
1- Name It, Don’t Numb It
When a conversation veers wildly off-course or tensions spike, the worst thing you can do is pretend it’s not happening.
What works: Naming the shift in energy or tone. A simple, calm observation, “I’m sensing we’re stuck,” or “It feels like we’ve lost the thread”, can break the tension and reset the room.
What doesn’t: Plowing ahead as if nothing is wrong. That’s how boards end up with poor decisions and bruised trust.
Naming the moment creates space to pause, breathe, and reorient.
2- Zoom Out Before You Zoom In
When things get messy, the instinct is to fix the immediate issue. But sometimes, the moment is just a symptom of something bigger.
What works: Asking a broader question like, “What are we really trying to solve here?” or “Is there a larger pattern we’re seeing?”
What doesn’t: Getting stuck in circular debate over details. That’s how tension festers.
Taking a systems-level pause can surface root causes and open up more productive paths forward.
3- Pull the Emergency Brake
Sometimes, the best move is to call a break. If emotions are running high, people are posturing, or decision fatigue has set in, hit pause.
What works: “Let’s take ten minutes to regroup.” Or, “Why don’t we step back and pick this up with fresh eyes at our next session?”
What doesn’t: Forcing a decision when the board is clearly fragmented. Rushed decisions made in messy moments rarely hold.
Pausing isn’t weakness, it’s governance maturity. Sometimes kicking-the-can down the road is the right choice.
Final Thought: Chaos Is a Signal
When things go cattywampus in the boardroom, it’s not always a failure. Sometimes, it’s a signal. That something needs surfacing. That dynamics need a reset. That assumptions need checking.
The goal isn’t to avoid tension, it’s to move through it with skill, respect, and strategy.
Resilient boards don’t just perform when it’s smooth sailing. They know how to right the ship when the waves hit, and get back on course, together.