PETERBOROUGH, England, July 2 /PRNewswire/ --     Far too little effort is devoted to director development compared with
the large amount of time given to management education and development. Now a
new book is set to correct the balance. 'Developing Directors, a handbook for
building an effective boardroom team', is an authoritative and comprehensive
new book on director and board development available from publishers Policy
Publications (http://www.policypublications.com).

Its author Professor Colin Coulson-Thomas has advised directors in over
40 countries on how to improve their corporate performance and his book is
based on his continuing research involving over 4000 organisations from small
firms to major corporations, public institutions and voluntary bodies. The
research has clearly identified what the most successful directors and boards
do so differently in those key areas that are so vital for corporate success.

Given the lack of preparation for boardroom roles, Colin Coulson-Thomas
says: "We should not assume directors are competent or expect boards to be
effective. The current situation represents a development challenge and a
huge opportunity to improve governance standards and corporate performance.
The best way of ensuring the long term success of an enterprise is to ensure
it is led by competent directors and an effective board."

'Developing Directors' highlights the fact that direction or governance
is quite different from management and it is essential that all entrepreneurs
and ambitious managers are aware of this distinction.

The director role is also not for the few. According to Prof.
Coulson-Thomas there could be two and a half million directors in the UK
alone, and many people possess directional qualities but are not aware it.
His book is the ultimate self-help book for those who wish to develop their
potential and move up to director level, as well as essential reading for
chairmen, directors, consultants, and trainers charged with the task of
developing dynamic boardroom teams to lead the organisations of today.
Aspiring and practising directors will find it a useful introduction to the
world of company direction and a guide to the ways in which more value can be
added to personnel effectiveness and ultimately a company's worth.

According to Dr Madhav Mehra, President of the World Council for
Corporate Governance: "Colin Coulson-Thomas' timely book "Developing
Directors" provides the most authoritative and comprehensive guidance for
director and boardroom development. It is particularly useful for chairmen,
presidents, directors and all those who counsel, coach and support them in
both the public and private sectors as well as voluntary organisations."

The book addresses a widespread desire for better board and corporate
performance as well as contemporary concerns over corporate governance
standards. 'Developing Directors' identifies the knowledge, skills and
personal qualities required by directors and defines the competent director
and the effective board. It looks at the route to the boardroom and how to
become a director, how directors are and should be prepared, and provides
details of director and board development courses.

Ian Davies, Chairman of The Independent Director believes: "'Developing
Directors' with its guidance, exercises and checklists provides company
chairmen, board directors and people who consult and train at board level
with essential advice and practical tools for enhancing directorial
contribution. Independent directors will find it a useful introduction to the
world of company direction and a valuable guide to what they and colleagues
can do to add more value."

Colin Coulson-Thomas is an experienced chairman of award winning
companies and Professor of Direction and Leadership at the University of
Lincoln. His book is packed with exercises and checklists specifically
designed for boardroom participation. For those concerned with understanding
and addressing the fundamentals, the book also examines the development
challenge, the roles of directors and boards, the distinction between
direction and management and factors affecting teamwork in the boardroom.

'Developing Directors, A handbook for building an effective boardroom
team' (367 pages; ISBN 978-1-872980-32-4) is available price GBP34.95 plus
p&p from http://www.policypublications.com/developingdirectors.htm. It can
also be ordered from Fax: +44-1733-361-459; all good bookshops or directly
from Policy Publications, Mill Reach, 12 Mill Lane, Water Newton,
Cambridgeshire, PE8 6LY, UK.

Twenty five new courses for directors and boards on particular activities
that are vital for corporate success are also available. For further
information contact Prof. Colin Coulson-Thomas by Tel: +44-1733-361-149 or
email: colinct@tiscali.co.uk and via http://www.adaptation.ltd.uk

Information about other books and reports by Prof. Coulson-Thomas can be
found on http://www.ntwkfirm.com/bookshop/ while details of the bespoke
benchmarking and research reports covering critical success factors
identified by his research can be obtained from
http://www.winningnewbusiness.biz/ Prof. Colin Coulson-Thomas who regularly
delivers courses for directors and has spoken at over 200 national and
international conferences can be contacted by Tel: +44-1733-361149, Email:
colinct@tiscali.co.uk or via http://www.coulson-thomas.com

Note to Editors:

For book cover and author images, articles on topics covered
by the book and related research reports, and media interviews with the
author please contact Prof. Colin Coulson-Thomas