Serving on a Board of Directors

There are all kinds of different reasons to serve on boards. Maybe you want to repay a debt to society. Maybe you’re passionate about something and you’ve just got to share your expertise, or you’ll wither away and die. It’s of course incredibly important to help save the world, but you also have to look at boards from a less altruistic standpoint.

Serving on boards can help define your personal brand by:

• Adding charisma and importance to your resume
• Illustrating who you are and what you care about
• Opening doors to other people and organizations important for you or your company

How do you get on a board if you’ve never been on one before? First of all, go talk to people at the organization and have lunch with the executive director or president. Tell them you’re interested in serving, but be ready to tell them why they want you and what expertise or special knowledge you bring to the table.

Maybe the organization is small and struggling; if so, you’ll have a better shot at a board position for them than for the United Way. Every board wants is more fundraising or PR — and that’s why Patty Briguglio is in demand.

Although a secondary need for many boards is accounting or legal skills, if you’re a 26-year-old financial planner or lawyer just starting out, your chance of getting on a high profile board of directors isn’t good. Nevertheless, it’s not impossible. Financial management is critical to the success of any organization.

Are you a computer guru? You are wanted everywhere. The entire world loves the Geek Squad.

If you have construction or real estate experience, your expertise will be welcomed by any organization considering purchase or construction of real estate property and clueless how to go about it.

Another way to get on boards is to ask colleagues to recommend you. Tell your peers that you’re looking to get some board experience and ask them if they can help you. If you’re young and inexperienced, go to someone older and more experienced and ask that person to mentor you into a board position.

One surefire way to eventually get elected to a board of directors is to serve on a committee for the organization. That way, you will get to know people and they’ll get to know you. (Sometimes when you do it this way, you may decide you don’t want to serve on that organization’s board after all.)