Board Service: Why It's Not For Everyone (10 year anniversary edition)

I originally wrote this 10 years ago when I was still in Silicon Valley (the original can still be found under the articles section on my LinkedIn page)!

As my 50th birthday approaches, I've been thinking a lot about my career, community, and board service, paid and volunteer. It's been a great exercise in seeing where I've grown, where I see more areas for growth and perspectives that have remained constant.

For me, the article below is one of those constants. So much so that I have stepped away from some board and commission volunteerism where I know I wasn't showing up like they need me to, but leaving room for ones where I truly can.

No major edits or updates are needed, I think. Would love to read your thoughts.

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To know me is to know that I view board service as something everyone should do at some point in their life. So, the title of this note may seem odd. Let me explain: I believe everyone should serve on a board, committee, or commission at some point in their life. Civic or community, non-profit or for-profit, it's a great learning experience as well as a way of giving back.

The problem I've seen in the past few years is that people are joining these groups without fully understanding the commitment (especially on a non-profit board). If you are not prepared to give more than just your time at a meeting once a month, board service is not for you...at least not right now. I've personally been vexed by the number of people who will sign up/petition/beg to be on a non-profit board, offer a lot of ideas on what the staff should be doing, argue their point, and then refuse to raise their hand to spearhead the ideas they've mentioned.

More vexing is the refusal of board members to financially contribute to the organization (let alone reach out to others to help support). Board service should not be treated as a monthly appointment on your calendar that you check off once it's done, and then forget about it until it pops up again as an event reminder. Board service is about maintaining and advancing the mission of the organization, investing yourself (money, time, resources), and advocating the organization to those in your social circle. Most local, non-profit boards ask for a give/get of $500, which is a very small number! Yet, I know of people who argue why this has to be.

Ask anyone or a large non-profit board or many for-profit boards, and the give/get is in the thousands!

- If you scoff at making a yearly financial contribution, you're not a board member.

- If you spend more time talking than doing, you're not a board member.

- If people close to you do not know that you're a sitting board member of the organization, you're not a board member. All you are doing is taking up space and frustrating board members who are doing the things you refuse to do.

Board service looks great on a resume or LinkedIn, but you should be able to describe your role as part of board membership. Attendee doesn't count. This also happens when you decide to a on multiple boards. There is nothing wrong with being on more than one, but if you are replicating non-participation, it's not good for anyone.

A few years ago, I became a hot commodity and ended up being on five (5) non-profit boards. A few months in, I realized that I could give as much as I wanted to or as much as they deserved. I decided to resign from four of them when my year was up. I didn't want to be a name-only board member. I'd much rather support their community events and efforts instead of taking space away from someone who could help with the mission and the bottom line. Board membership is about someone other than you.

There is nothing wrong with putting it off when you are ready. Yet, when you are, find a board that you will commit to, do anything for, and be reflective of who you are.