How can one position themselves for board service?
Having served on multiple corporate boards and currently serving on Clean Start Kenya’s board, which is a non-profit board, I come across this question quite often.
I like to start my response to this question with these questions:
- What is your motivation for wanting to become a board member of a specific company or organization?
- Is it money or prestige or to tick a box on your vision board, or is it a genuine desire to contribute?
- Should you get an opportunity, what are you bringing to the board table? What is your value proposition?
- Do you know where you’re needed and where gaps may exist for a board you’re eying or is it wishful thinking?
Once you have identified the answers to the above questions, here are a few things you can proceed to do to get your name on that coveted board seat.
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Promote yourself.
- After working hard to build your resume and hone your skills.
- Start speaking up about your interest in serving on a particular board and be bold about it.
- Share contributions you have made that are deserving and worth mentioning, that highlight with clarity the value you have created in prior companies.
- Raise your visibility through published articles and volunteer to speak at conferences that in turn help to raise your profile.
- Don’t shy away from blatant self-promotion as you continue to scale your brand and career.
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Network and Nurture the relationships you have.
You will find that being in Executive leadership means you function best within a highly networked environment. As such, many board members will earn their positions through existing connections.
- Reach out to your alma mater, and volunteer to serve on nonprofit boards.
- Use your LinkedIn and other social media networks as a key resource for potential and future board contacts.
- Additionally, if you are engaged in a cause, or community services like a Rotary Club or Lions Club, or Toastmasters Club, volunteer to serve on their boards where for that initial skills and experience.
Interested in serving on a board? Or already serving on a board but want to better increase your impact and influence amongst your fellow board members and management?
