Board Members Pros and Cons
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 www.boardroompros.com/e-learning-for-board-members/ research the non-profit organizations that are in your community. Our panelists recommend identifying those that you admire and reaching out to see whether they have a board seat that is open, or an open volunteer position. They also suggest attending a board match event that serves as a career fair boards.
You’ll be required to attend meetings and offer strategic advice whenever needed. You will also be responsible for fundraising. Our panelists suggested that you focus on finding an organization where you feel comfortable contributing at a level that is comfortable for you.
One of the main issues the panelists discussed was the need to stay on top of paperwork and other responsibilities, specifically as boards become more multi-cultural and geographically diverse. They recommend looking for tools to reduce the burden of these tasks and make sure you stay in touch with your board members through verbal communication and email.
The panelists also discussed how being a member of a board can be incredibly fulfilling. They recommend identifying an issue that you are passionate about and then becoming an advocate for it, to provide you with meaning in your work.