On #3: It's Hard to Know what is Really Going On

Obtaining and Verifying Information by CEO
Jean Francois Sonson, CEO, Saint Lucia
I have found that the following things are useful:
1) Ask questions of the person supplying the info to see how confident and convincing he or she is about the information submitted;
2) Through your networks (which are important to have) seek feedback on matters you are not sure about; and
3) There is a pool of expertise among your board members, develop a relationship with them so that you can seek their opinions and feedback on matters that you are not sure about.
This I find is most important.

Uncooperative Staff
Donato ochan Hakim, Interim Manager, Sudan
It is true that not all the staff around the CEO are angels. Some staff can group themselves to work against anything that will give credit to the CEO.
Staff tend not cooperate with the CEO. Life becomes hard. Something can be done, that is question yourself" why things are that way?