It’s
not what you know – its who knows what you
know!
Why do we continue to see the same names popping
up on boards throughout Australia and New Zealand?
What do these people know, that the people wanting
to secure board seats don’t know? Is there
a shortage of opportunities? Well you only have
to read the financial pages to see the highs and
lows of board members and chairmen alike., One
thing for sure and certain, is that you have to
be visible, a strong decision maker, be prepared
to make the tough calls and undergo public scrutiny.
So
have you got what it takes to got on a board?
Lets look at 3 key areas that may assist you to
secure your first or next board appointment.
1.
BE PREPARED TO ASK FOR HELP.
Identify all the people in your network who are
currently on boards or have held board seats in
the last five years. Highlight the names of those
people you would feel comfortable phoning and
asking for a ten minute phone meeting. Now you
might be thinking, you would prefer to take that
busy person to lunch or dinner, and chat in a
more relaxed manner. Maybe you give your contact
that choice. But I can assure it is no fun for
the person being questioned as they try to eat
a meal whilst being on the end of a barrage of
questions. More often than not, their food goes
cold, they get indigestion and it’s not
exactly a pleasant experience for them. And in
this time poor society, you are probably not a
major priority for them and lets face it, they
can buy their own lunch any day. Yet asked courteously
they will be more than happy to give you phone
time. Your call might go something like this,
“Mary, I am keen to get on a not for profit
board in the charity area, I know you have been
on XX board for sometime, and I was wondering
if I could arrange a phone appointment with you
to ask you 3 quick questions.”
When
your objectives are clearly explained, often you
will receive your answers on the spot –
which saves both of you time. However, if the
appointment is confirmed, don’t be surprised
if it may be cancelled once or twice. Remember
this is a priority for you, not for them.
2.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE YOUR PHONE APPOINTMENT
Be courteous enough to know as much about this
person as possible. Know which boards they are
currently on, the ones they may have resigned
from and any challenges within the industries
they currently represent. It could be considered
a serious waste of their time if you have not
bothered to research and prepare for the call.
And this may reflect badly in the future, should
they ever be asked to give you a reference or
testimonial. Don’t waste their time with
stupid and obvious questions.
3.
BE SPECIFIC WITH YOUR QUESTIONING
Prepare your questions as succinctly as possible.
Write them down and refer to the list as you go.
Write notes, don’t think you will remember
everything particularly if you are a little nervous
– you are bound to forget something important.
Be direct, but avoid confrontation. Remember,
they are helping you and giving freely of their
time. Your questions may include a brief background
summary. With their agreement, you may even pre-send
a brief resume and your questions a couple of
days before the phone meeting. The busy person
may not read your information word for word, but
they are generally impressed with your professionalism.
Your
questions may include:
Be
mindful of the time, you have asked for ten minutes
and it is not your call to extend the time unless
this is offered to you. Always, always, always
send a thank you note – thanking the person
for their time and making reference to one or
two points that you will be acting on. Remember
also to keep them in the loop with your progress
– this doesn’t mean weekly calls,
but it does include a quarterly update, either
written or posted.
A wise person once said that your Network is your
Networth – this certainly applies when it
comes to board appointments. Happy networking!
