The pros of sitting 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.
A great way to identify an opportunity is to look into the non-profit organizations that are in your community. Our panelists recommend identifying those you admire and contacting them to find out if there is a position on the board or a www.boardroompros.com/e-learning-for-board-members/ volunteer position. They also suggest attending a board match-type event that acts as a career fair for boards.
Being a board member means you’ll need to be available for meetings and provide strategic advice when needed. Additionally, you’ll be accountable for fundraising. Our panelists suggested you find the board that you feel comfortable contributing at a rate that is comfortable for you.
One of the key challenges that our panelists have discussed is the necessity of keeping up with paperwork and other responsibilities, particularly when a board is becoming more multi-cultural and geographically diverse. They suggest looking into tools that can streamline these processes, and stay in contact with fellow board members via email and verbal communication.
The panelists also discussed how becoming an elected board member can be a wonderful source of personal fulfillment. They recommend identifying the cause you’re passionate about and being an advocate for it to bring meaning to your work.