GET ON BOARD PART FIVE: READY TO GO
Veronika Munro
Programme Manager and Community Ecologist - Resilience, Response and Recovery
In this article we explore more about getting involved with a Board now that you are ready to give it a go. Your personal brand is sorted (see part 4), so now its time to let them know you are ready to get involved by applying for roles on Boards that appeal to your values and interests.
#GetOnBoard #WomenOnBoards #WomenInGovernance #LivedEsperienceInGovernance #smallthingsgreatlove #communityboards #BuildYourNetworks
Build on your strengths
Applying for a role is no time to be modest. Now is the time to highlight your strengths to potential Board recruiters and your contacts. Look out for board opportunities where your unique skills can contribute and add real value.
A self-assessment checklist is a good place to start. There are many good tools on the internet that help identify your particular strengths including one from the Ministry of Women (NZ) ?https://www.myboardstrengths.co.nz/signin
Some of the things that Boards typically look[1] for are:
-??????? Strategic thinking
-??????? Planning and leadership
-??????? Risk management and audit capability
-??????? Reading and understanding of financial statements
-??????? Legal, financial and other professional skills
-??????? Marketing and communications
-??????? Fund raising
-??????? Industry specific skills and knowledge
-??????? Stakeholder and relationship management
-??????? Integrity and community standing
-??????? Demonstrated honesty
-??????? Tolerance of different views
-??????? Track record of acting in good faith and in the best interest of the community
-??????? Ability to listen, analyse, think clearly and work well with others
Other value you can add comes from your own personal lived experience. Do not hesitate to apply for roles on Boards that represent population groups that you are part of, just because you feel you don’t tick enough of the ‘professional’ skill sets.
More Boards need to have representation from people who really know what it is like to be at the receiving end of service provided by organisations the Board governs. The voices of people with experiences such as hearing loss, or lived experience in family violence, are sadly missing from many Boards and if you can offer a view from that perspective then you are an asset to any Board.
Show you are serious
A good way to improve your understanding of the responsibilities of Board members and the functions of a Board is to complete some accredited Board training (also known as governance training). There are a range of ways to get training in Board skills such as through the Institute of Directors NZ (https://www.iod.org.nz/governance-courses/# ) and there are many related courses on LinkedIn and other online sites.
It is important to remember that neither training nor membership of an organisation can replace relevant skills and experience.
Promote your successes
Do not be shy about discretely communicating your successes and the contributions you have made in your employment and board roles. Think about how to convey this information appropriately, when the opportunity arises, to people who make decisions about board appointments. This will help you stand out from the crowd. Be sure to emphasise strengths you have that are in high demand and short supply. Draw attention to these in your CV.
More tips for writing an appropriate CV: https://women.govt.nz/leadership/all-about-boards/preparing-board-role/writing-governance-cv (Ministry for Women NZ).
Presenting your CV in video format
It is reasonably common these days for people to provide video resumes during a recruitment process. However, do not make the mistake of thinking that a video CV replaces a written CV. Rather, it is a way of enhancing your written application.
The purpose of a video CV is to introduce yourself and give the recruiter insight into your personality and create a great first impression. While it is an opportunity to highlight aspects of your written CV, the most important question to answer in a video resume is “Why should the Board choose you?”
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There are many ways of presenting yourself in video format – not all of them involve you looking at, and talking directly to, the screen. Variations include storyboards and presenting images that represent you.
Whichever method you choose there are some fundamental things to remember.
1)???? Do not ‘wing it’! Take time to develop a script for your presentation before you record it. This gives you the time to really consider what you want to say, and how you want to say it, so that you present in the best possible way. It helps to avoid stuttering, using ‘ums and ahs’, and means you will present more confidently without awkward pauses. Once you have developed your script, memorise as much as you can so that when you are presenting you are not stopping to read or looking at notes when you are on camera.
2)???? Be relevant. Just like your written CV your video should be targeted at the specific type of roles you are targeting. You want the viewer to see that you are really engaged in the role you are applying for and make the experience of watching your video meaningful for them.
3)???? Keep it short. No one needs a long-winded dialogue of your history and views. The people recruiting for the Board are often short on time, and if your video is too long, they will simply stop watching – and possibly miss the best bits. Keep it snappy, interesting, and brief. According to a study by Wistia[1] the ideal length for a video resume is 1-2 minutes.
4)???? Get creative. It is likely that you will not be the only one who provides a video introduction so you need to think about how yours’ will stand out from the crowd. There are many things you can do to make your video a real winner. Wyzowl[2] provides some good tips on making your videos creative.
5)???? Make it professional. Most smart phones these days provide good quality filming, so it is usually fine to do it yourself. But you still need to make sure you pay attention to quality of lighting, sound, and effects. If you are not confident you can create a professional looking video yourself, it is worth considering getting a professional to do it for you.
6)???? Collect feedback. Before you sent it out to the wider world, take time to get friends, colleagues, or family to critique your video. They will see things that you may miss – just like getting someone to edit your written work before you submit it.
Ways to get involved
There are various ways become involved in boards. Board positions could become available through advertisements, at Annual General Meetings (usually through a nomination process), or by direct appointment.
Depending on how the opportunity arises, you may need to employ either a direct or indirect approach to show your interest. It is important to know which approach will work best for your chosen Board.
Direct (or elected) approach
The direct approach involves either:
1.????? Nominations/ Elections: Nominating yourself for election as a board member or replying to a publicly advertised position. (The rules governing some organisations require Board members to be elected such as for members of a local government council.) You could seek an elected position on a regional council, or a board director position on a co-operative by going through the relevant process. ?
2.????? Personal contact: You can contact a Board or organisation that holds particular interest for you to directly ask for a role. This can be done by introducing yourself to a current Board member and explaining that you are interested in a Board role. This can be particularly useful in the not-for-profit sector where qualified directors are often difficult to find.
Indirect approach
The indirect approach involves introducing yourself to colleagues in Board circles as a skilled person who is interested in Board roles. This approach is likely to be more successful if you are interested in a private sector board, or a public sector board.
This approach requires that you build a solid reputation as a person with sound qualifications and valuable skills for the sector you are interested in. You can also submit your CV to sites such as:
These are just a few of the many places you can find opportunities and connections. Google search will bring up many more. Social networking sites such as LinkedIn can also be useful.
Get Connected: Find a mentor
A mentor is a more experienced person who acts as your role model and guide and who can assist you in finding the best Board role for you. Mentors can be particularly helpful when it comes to managing some of the more difficult challenges you will encounter.
A mentor should:
A good place to go to find a suitable mentor is through the Institute of Directors NZ who have been running mentoring programmes for women for some time now. You can also go to the Ministry of Women NZ or – if you are outside NZ – talk to Director organisations in your own country.
Finally - Be persistent
There is strong competition for Board roles. The first Board role is often the hardest to get, but as your experience and reputation grow, more opportunities are likely to come your way. To succeed, you need to be persistent. If you do not have immediate success, do not take it personally – keep developing your talents and building your experience.