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what are the benefits of being a board member

by Prof. Cindy McCullough MD Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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  • Strengthen your professional credibility. Selection for a board position shows that an organization is entrusting you with a vital, visible and high-impact role.
  • Grow your professional network. Board roles provide you with an incredible opportunity to meet influential, intelligent and well-connected people.
  • Sharpen your professional skills. Serving on a board will enable you to strengthen a variety of professional skills, which are highly beneficial for career advancement.
  • Gain exposure and insight. Serving on a board provides access to the inner workings of an organization, as well as the opportunity to learn about other industries, business strategies and ...
  • Reinvigorate your career. You can use your expertise and skills as a board member to make a difference in a company, industry, community, and possibly, in a lot of individual ...
  • Increased visibility. Exhibiting solid performance on a board and utilizing your expertise to contribute meaningfully to its mission and goals will elevate your professional reputation.

This is Why Joining a Board is Great for Your Career
  • Strengthen your professional credibility. ...
  • Grow your professional network. ...
  • Sharpen your professional skills. ...
  • Gain exposure and insight. ...
  • Reinvigorate your career. ...
  • Increased visibility.

Full Answer

What does it take to be a good board member?

To be a good board member your mindset needs to be centered on being a true thought partner for the CEO. Leverage your relationship capital to make valuable introductions for your CEO to expand their network of mentors and potential partnership or revenue opportunities.

What are the qualities of a good board member?

Want to Know What Makes a Good HOA Board Member?

  1. Dedicated. First and foremost, a good HOA board member should exhibit a willingness to serve. ...
  2. Meticulous. As a board member, you should do more than just the bare minimum. ...
  3. Flexible. Flexibility is one of the most important qualities of a good HOA board member. ...
  4. Patient. ...
  5. Fair-Minded. ...
  6. Consistent. ...
  7. Can Delegate. ...
  8. Optimistic. ...
  9. Righteous and Transparent. ...
  10. Collaborative. ...

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Why you should become a board member?

You are building your career, and being a board member would allow you to learn new skills or practice current ones. You think nonprofit board experience would be considered a plus on your resume or in your academic credentials. You want the opportunity to network with like-minded or otherwise interesting people.

What does it take to become a board member?

  • Shareholders with the desire, resources, and time can access the nomination process once held only by current boards.
  • Shareholder groups, from large influential pension funds to small groups, can now back their own candidates.
  • Shareholders will have a much closer relationship with boards.

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Is being a board member worth it?

It is an impressive addition which adds gravitas to any resume, CV or LinkedIn profile. A board role also shows other executives and thought leaders in your industry that you are a front runner in your field and well-equipped to help shape the future of an organization.

What is the benefit of board of directors?

A successful board of directors offers reliable and ethical decision making for the purpose of giving objective advice that reduces the probability of risk. Investors and financial institutions see that as an advantage which will contribute to the lowering of capital cost financing for a company.

What happens when you become a board member?

A board member is an individual on a company's board of directors who helps make decisions about a company's finances, oversee a company's operations and elect chief executives. Depending on the size of the company, you may combine many board member roles into a single job.

Do board members do anything?

The board of directors of a public company is elected by shareholders. The board makes key decisions on issues such as mergers and dividends, hires senior managers, and sets their pay. Board of directors candidates can be nominated by the company's nominations committee or by outsiders seeking change.

Do board members get paid?

Board members aren't paid by the hour. Instead, they receive a base retainer that averages around $25,000. On top of this, they also may be paid a fee for each annual board meeting and another fee for meeting by teleconference.

What does being on the board mean?

If a person or group of people is on board, they support you and agree with what you are doing. We want to see that everyone is on board for creating change. We were able to keep some moderate and conservative Democrats on board. See also board. 'on board'

What are the 3 primary responsibilities of board members?

Just as for any corporation, the board of directors of a nonprofit has three primary legal duties known as the “duty of care,” “duty of loyalty,” and “duty of obedience.”

Why do I want to be a board member?

Board roles provide you with an incredible opportunity to meet influential, intelligent and well-connected people. You may meet an organization's strategic partners, its clients and investors, as well as colleagues and leaders across industries and government.

How many shares do you need to become a board member?

None. You don't have to own any stock to be elected to the board. On the other hand, if the shareholders like th have directors who own some stock, or who own a specific amount, then they won't elect you if you don't own any. (They can elect whomever they want.)

Can a CEO fire a board member?

While the boards often act, at least in the opinion of shareholder activists, like the board and the CEO are in charge, shareholders always have had the theoretical right to get rid of anyone they want. The firing of an individual board member by the CEO or the rest of the board is more common.

How many hours do board members work?

According to the National Association of Corporate Directors, board directors are averaging almost 250 hours per year per company, up 18 percent from just before the infamous Lehman Brothers collapse in 2008 that marked the beginning of the global financial crisis.

What board members should not do?

Board members don't do their duty to give, get AND get off! This means giving personally – financially, expertise, time – getting others to contribute the same, and getting off the board when it's time.

What does it mean to work on a board?

One thing that any employer will tell you is how much they value the ability to manage time and multiple commitments in their employees, and working on a board proves that you have those qualities in abundance. Anyone willing to commit themselves to a directorial role on top of their day-to-day job is showing that they’re capable of taking on more responsibilities, and able to balance executive and non-executive positions.

Should money be your primary objective when looking to join a board?

Of course, money should never be your primary objective when looking to join a board. But in this article, we’re talking about the unexpected benefits, and there are plenty of those that can potentially be very lucrative.

Why do I join a non profit board?

Many individuals join a board as a way to give back . Nonprofit boards can provide an excellent opportunity to positively affect change or support organizations working towards a cause they are passionate about. Small private boards offer the chance to provide your specific knowledge or expertise to the organization to really make a difference to the company’s operation. Whether you are helping to hone the focus of an organization currently working toward an initiative that resonates with you or supporting one that is just beginning their efforts to achieve a goal that aligns with your passions, serving on a board can be a uniquely rewarding experience.

Why join a board on LinkedIn?

Outside of optimizing your LinkedIn profile, joining a board is the best thing you can do to boost your executive brand. It is an impressive addition which adds gravitas to any resume, CV or LinkedIn profile. A board role also shows other executives and thought leaders in your industry that you are a front runner in your field and well-equipped to help shape the future of an organization. The additional exposure will have a positive impact on your visibility to executive search consultants and further assist them in understanding your unique value when sourcing potential board candidates.

Why do people get on boards?

Most people who are on boards get there because they enjoy networking and have a strong professional circle that afforded them a board opportunity. When you serve on a board with leaders who are passionate about making new connections, you will be able to expand your existing community of friends and colleagues, adding influential people with different backgrounds and insights. This new network can be an asset for the rest of your career when you are looking for new executive jobs, additional board roles, or simply to swap ideas with someone who has a different outlook than you.

What does it mean to be a board director?

As a board director, you will gain insight into a new company which probably has a different structure and way of doing business than yours. The other board members will also be from various industries and roles, some of which you may not typically work with.

Why do executives shy away from board positions?

While executives know board positions are great professional opportunities, many still shy away from adding one to their career plan because they find the strenuous selection process daunting or worry about the time commitment of serving on a board.

What is board role?

Board roles provide you with an incredible opportunity to meet influential, intelligent and well-connected people. You may meet an organization’s strategic partners, its clients and investors, as well as colleagues and leaders across industries and government. As you meet new people, be sure to connect in meaningful ways; relationships are not built on a single conversation. Cultivate them by setting up calls/meetings, sharing resources, making plans to meet at another event, and of course, connecting on LinkedIn. These relationships can be quite valuable when you are ready to pursue the next step in your career.

Why is serving on a board important?

Serving on a board will enable you to strengthen a variety of professional skills, which are highly beneficial for career advancement . Key among them is collaboration, particularly how you work and interact with other board members and organizational leaders across business and functional areas that may be newer to you.

What does serving on a board do?

Serving on a board will also strengthen leadership skills, especially if you are heading a committee of other executives, which is quite different than leading a team of direct reports or a cross-functional project team. And, if the committee meets remotely, directing them can also sharpen remote team management skills.

What does board affiliation mean?

It is a public endorsement of your expertise and value. This affiliation is one you can communicate and promote , and it can raise your professional profile among your peers, within your organization and across your industry. Your board affiliation can also enhance the brand and reputation of the organization for which you work. All of these things can help strengthen your candidacy for a promotion or new role and can increase your value in the workplace.

Is a board role beneficial?

You’ve heard that a board role can be highly beneficial for your career. You’ve been told that whether it’s for a non-profit organization or corporate entity, serving on a board can provide professional growth opportunities and strengthen your personal brand. However, since pursuing a board role may require a considerable investment ...

What is board service?

Board service at its best allows you to bring your full self to the organization – your emotional connection to the work, your commitment to the overall sector, your life experience, your skills, and the good head you have on your shoulders.

Is a nonprofit board like a corporate board?

First of all, nonprofit boards are not like corporate boards. Second, not all nonprofit boards are alike. The board of the PAWS Montclair is not looking for the CEO of Citibank to join the board. But UNICEF might be looking for someone in that league.

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Credibility and Reputation

  • One thing that any employer will tell you is how much they value the ability to manage time and multiple commitments in their employees, and working on a board proves that you have those qualities in abundance. Anyone willing to commit themselves to a directorial role on top of their day-to-day job is showing that they’re capable of taking on more ...
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Money

  • Of course, money should never be your primary objective when looking to join a board. But in this article, we’re talking about the unexpected benefits, and there are plenty of those that can potentially be very lucrative. Besides actually getting paid to work on a board, the monetary benefits are not exactly direct but just as rewarding. As your credibility and reputation improve, s…
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Learning on The Job and Chance encounters

  • In most industries, a team of employees will share similar key skill-sets; for instance, solicitors working for a family law firm will typically have similar education backgrounds and specialities. And while this is a great way to further hone your existing expertise, it doesn’t provide you with a great number of varying disciplines to learn more about. Working on a diverse board means that …
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Seeing The Other Side

  • This last point is easily the least expected on the list but in some ways the most valuable. By working on a board, you have the unique chance to see through the eyes of a non-executive versus the perspective of a role in management that you’re likely more used to. Not only will this give you a more holistic view of how organisations work as a whole, you’ll also gain insight into the role o…
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