The benefits of being on a board include the opportunity to learn, prestige, leadership development and networking opportunities. Cammy and Ali also noted that it’s a way to get C-level skills in areas like governance, financials, marketing and public relations/communications while helping to shape the strategy and make decisions that impact a business.
One of the best ways to find an opportunity is to look at non-profit organizations in your area. Our panelists recommend identifying the ones that you admire and contacting them to find out whether they have a seat open, or have the opportunity www.boardroompros.com/training-new-board-members-5-important-tips/ to volunteer. They also suggest attending an event similar to a job fair, which is a board match.
Being a board member means you’ll have to be present for meetings and provide strategic advice if required. You’ll also be accountable for fundraising. Our panelists suggested you focus on finding a board where you are comfortable contributing at a level that you are comfortable with.
One of the key challenges that our panelists discussed is the need to stay on top of paperwork and other responsibilities, particularly when a board is becoming more diverse and multi-cultural. They suggested looking for tools to streamline the process, and remain in contact with other board members by email or verbal communication.
In the final segment, panelists discussed how being a board member could be a wonderful source of fulfillment for your life. They recommend finding an issue that you are interested in and becoming an advocate for it, to bring meaning to your work.