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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…