Book excerpt: Although written with the private club in mind, the common-sense solutions John Carroll offers to those responsible for overseeing the running of an organization apply to any board member. Carroll has distilled the complexities of leadership and governance into practical action. With thirty-five years of experience with boards of all types, he shows how a fine-tuned sense of "people skills, " coupled with an understanding of how the club functions, creates an atmosphere where decisions can be made for the benefit of the club and all its members.