Forewarned is forearmed: the six challenges of gaining a board appointment.
Every day I meet people intent on starting a board career. But, for as many people I meet who want a board career I meet just as many who say that finding a board role is too onerous a process. This is disappointing because board appointments offer terrific opportunities to further your career, develop new skills and create new personal […]
LinkedIn & Your Board Search
LinkedIn – a highly underrated tool for your board search It is no secret that I love using LinkedIn – infact, with over 20,000 connections, I am a Top 10 Australian, LinkedIn user. I love using it because: it has some great functionality; it allows me to connect with individuals directly and provides an easy […]
How Much Are Non Executives Remunerated?
A question that will undoubtedly come to mind as you start your journey to becoming a Board Member, is the question of how much you can expect to be paid as a member of a board. Being a paid board member is a dream of many The amount a Non-Executive could earn depends on a […]
What Questions to Expect in a Board Interview
Getting that call or that email to say that you have been chosen for a board interview is possibly one of the most exciting and exhilarating things that can happen to any board candidate – other than actually being appointed to the board of course. However, the moment you put that phone down, the nerves […]
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 […]
What Boards want (5): Demonstrable Passion
This is the last of my articles addressing the five elements that I know most Chairs or Nominations Committees consider when making board appointments. To recap, in my last four articles I detailed: which executive skills are valued at board level, why evidencing prior governance experience is so important, why your personal connections are so valuable and why cultural […]
What Boards want (4): Cultural Fit
The Importance of Demonstrating Cultural Fit in the Board Appointment Process In recent articles I have been working through the the five elements I know most Chairs or Nominations Committees consider when making board appointments including: which executive skills are valued at board level, why evidencing prior governance experience is so important and why your personal connections […]
The Value of a Governance Qualification
The majority of board candidates I speak to have a Governance Qualification. If you don’t, then you are not comprehensively ‘dare(ing) them to appoint you’. Long time members of Board Direction will confirm that a big part of what we emphasize on your CV, and in our thought leadership, is your previous experience & success in serving on a board. Whether it was a paid or unpaid role or whether it […]
Setting Goals for the New Year: Don’t Forget Your Board Ambitions
It’s that time of year when we walk into stores and all we hear is the sound of Christmas music playing. Some are getting ready to take a well-deserved vacation, while others are already getting ready for the new year that lies ahead. For most of us, it’s a time of reflection on the past […]
What Boards Want (2): Prior Governance Experience.
Prior Governance Experience and What to Do if You Don’t Have It In another article I outlined the five (5) elements (skills, experience, connections, understanding & fit) that I understand most Chairs or Nominations Committees consider when making board appointments. Specifically, I detailed what executive skills are valued at board level but also, I hope, […]
What Boards Want (1): Executive skills.
The benefits of gaining a board appointment are considerable – both professionally and personally and there are hundreds of organisations looking for Non Executive Directors at any given moment. In order to be successfully appointed to a board or to submit an effective application it is important to first understand what skills appointing boards look for in potential […]
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 […]
Why you should really consider taking an unpaid board role – even if you don’t want one
Many I speak with tell me that they would love to sit on a board but that they would only consider a paid board role. I believe that only considering a paid board role is a mistake* and that an unpaid board role can be equally or more rewarding. As such I spend much of […]
How Much Does a Board CV Really Count when Looking for a Board Position?
‘If only a great Board CV meant securing a board role’. This was a comment I recently received from a member. She of course had a point – you should never just rely upon your CV to do the talking for you – your networks and other tactics are incredibly valuable. However, not having a […]
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 […]