What Chairs Want (3): Your Personal Connections
In my last couple of articles I outlined the five elements that I understand most Chairs or Nominations Committees consider when making board appointments: executive skills governance experience personal connections understanding and passion for the work cultural fit Specifically, I detailed what executive skills are valued at board level but also why evidencing prior governance experience […]
How much research should you do for a NED application?
When it’s done right, thorough research will clearly and evidently separate you from your competitors and make you highly appointable. However, you must be prepared to do more than you might expect. Tell me what you know about the board you are applying for? is a question I have asked board candidates thousands of times. Unfortunately, their responses rarely extend […]
Preparing yourself for a Non Executive Career
I am often asked what advice I would give to anyone wanting a board position. My immediate answer is to start looking for roles well before you need one as the process of being appointed can be lengthy. Beyond this, there are five factors you need to consider when preparing yourself for a non executive career. […]
How do I find a paid board role?
Gaining a paid board opportunity is a highly competitive process with both aspiring and existing board directors vying for the same positions. There are four ways people get board appointments. With some of these approaches being far more effective than others. Recruiters, Not for Profits, Networks and the Direct Approach Executive Search Firms: Many believe that the best […]
Four Ways to Get Appointed and the One Thing that Really Counts
Like much in life we find theory on the one hand and on the other, the actual practice. I have worked as a headhunter and seen the board appointment process up close for almost 10 years. In my experience, in addition to working your personal connections, there are three ways in which individuals are appointed to […]
How to Get on a Board – The Fundamentals
Many think that the only thing that matters in a board selection process is that a candidate has the relevant skills to contribute to the board. But that’s rarely the only aspect boards look at when searching for the right candidate. As competition is fierce for board positions organisations can afford to pick through the applications of very good candidates to […]
How Much Do ‘Old School Networks’ Count?
The importance of our networks can never be underestimated when it comes to the board appointment process. So when asked how much old school networks count in a board appointment, the simple answer to this question is: ‘It depends on whether a board considers itself a rockpool or a Northern Quoll.’ Rockpool vs Northern Quoll […]
Why Being Good Enough Counts More Than You Think
Being good enough counts – especially when it comes to board appointments. When applying for a board role, being good enough counts much more than you think. Unlike many senior executive appointment processes where tens of thousands of dollars are often spent on a recruitment process or a recruitment consultant and that is tied to a rigid process, the board appointment process […]
How to win a board position
Preparation and forethought are prerequisites to obtaining a board role. From the perspective of an office junior or intern, taking a seat at a boardroom table can seem an impossible dream. But commitment and persistence pay off, and a career puncuated by achievement can eventually mark you as a genuine contender. You’re unlikely to be […]
Is your network stale rather than shallow?
Is your network stale rather than shallow – make a commitment NOW to begin getting your contact network house in order. Consider the following Plan.
Connectedness – the new differentiator
Connectedness doesn’t happen by chance, but fortunately it isn’t all the difficult. First you need to determine what your network looks like today, and then you need to figure out what it should look like to enable you to meet the demands of the future. Advances in both mapping and visualisation techniques greatly assist in making it much more accessible for mainstream businesses. Being ‘smart’ about building your connections for the future will optimise the investment where it provides the highest return. What’s the point of being connected to 100 people if you can develop a close relationship with one person who already knows the same 100 people?