Featuring guest Mike Humphries, SparkEffect CEO and former Fortune 500 Executive.

Welcome to Courage to Advance, hosted by Kim Bohr and brought to you by SparkEffect, in partnership with The Empathy Edge.

Our show is launching off on its own! Come check us out for twice-monthly episodes at www.CourageToAdvancePodcast.com or subscribe to Courage to Advance on your favorite player.

Kim Bohr opens with a striking boardroom paradox: "The person who can most impact your organization's success or failure, your CEO, is also the person most likely to receive the least comprehensive, least rigorous performance evaluation." In this conversation with Mike Humphries, they explore why traditional board-only CEO evaluations fall dramatically short.

Mike reveals why most boards focus on KPIs that capture only 15-20% of a comprehensive CEO evaluation, missing critical competencies like adaptability and stakeholder leadership. The conversation unveils how co-creating evaluations with CEOs prevents feedback rejection, why different stakeholders experience CEOs differently, and how independent assessment creates psychological safety for honest feedback in the loneliest executive role. To access the episode transcript, please scroll down below.

To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode at TheEmpathyEdge.com.

Key Takeaways:

• Most CEO evaluations focus only on KPIs—missing 80% of a comprehensive assessment
• CEOs who help design evaluation processes can't honestly reject feedback
• Board members and executive teams experience CEOs in different environments
• Independent evaluation eliminates bias and creates safety for honest feedback
• Early warning signs surface first with direct reports, not board members
• Comprehensive evaluation covers adaptability, stakeholder leadership, and culture stewardship
• Longitudinal analysis tracks CEO growth and identifies systemic challenges

"I don't think any board goes into this process thinking that they're taking a superficial approach... but there is a different way, and especially for this unique role." —  Mike Humphries

About Mike Humphries: Mike Humphries serves as Chairman and CEO of SparkEffect. He joined the organization in 2001, bringing experience as a successful entrepreneur and business executive with deep knowledge in finance, technology, and administration. Over two decades, he has served on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards, giving him a unique perspective on effective governance and leadership evaluation.

About SparkEffect: SparkEffect partners with organizations to unlock the full potential of their greatest asset: their people. Through tailored assessments and expert coaching, SparkEffect helps organizations manage change, sustain growth, and chart a path to a brighter future.

Go to sparkeffect.com/ceo-evaluation now and download your complimentary CEO Evaluation Framework Assessment today.

Connect with Mike Humphries:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikehumphries/

Website: sparkeffect.com/about/mike-humphries

Connect with Kim Bohr and SparkEffect

SparkEffect: sparkeffect.com

Courage to Advance recording and resources: sparkeffect.com/courage-to-advance-podcast

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/sparkeffect

LinkedIn for Kim Bohr: linkedin.com/in/kimbohr

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