In every boardroom I have walked into, in the public sector, financial institutions, or family-owned manufacturers, it only takes a few minutes of silence to smell the culture. Not read it, but smell it. At one board meeting, directors began as usual, heads down, scrolling through WhatsApp while nodding at the board pack. Midway through, the Chair paused and asked, “Has everyone read the strategy memo?” A few nodded. No one spoke. “Any concerns before we approve?” The room went quiet. “We trust management,” someone offered. But this was not trust. It was quiet disengagement disguised as confidence. Strategic detachment…