The Power of Clarity: Your 2025 Board Search and Career Strategy

The new year is here, and with it comes a wave of opportunity to set the tone for success. After the long weekend, I have back-to-back meetings lined up with clients eager to strategise and plan for the year ahead. It’s an exciting time—clients come ready to dive in, but I’ve observed a recurring pattern over the years: most executives lack the clarity they need to achieve great results.

Why Clarity Matters

When I ask my clients, "What are your goals for the year? What do you hope to achieve?" the answers are often vague or incomplete. Many are waiting for me to provide the direction. While I’m happy to help steer the ship, the truth is that without a clear vision, it’s nearly impossible to achieve meaningful results.

Clarity is the foundation for success. If you don’t know what you’re aiming for, how can you hit the target? This is especially true when it comes to building a board portfolio or advancing your executive career.

The Problem with the Scattergun Approach

Too many executives take a scattergun approach:

• "I just want to be on boards."
• "I’ll apply for every opportunity that comes my way."

This lack of focus dilutes their efforts and leads to frustration when results don’t materialise. The key to standing out in a competitive market is laser-sharp specificity.

Instead of chasing every opportunity, you need a clear and actionable plan. Break it down quarter by quarter, and work with purpose toward achieving a single, well-defined goal.

A Quarterly Board Search Strategy

In my practice, we work with clients quarter by quarter to lock in their board search strategy. This approach provides focus and ensures measurable progress: 1?? Set a Clear Goal for the Quarter: For example, in Q1, your goal might be to secure a not-for-profit board role. 2?? Identify Your Target Organisations: Create a shortlist of 10 organisations that align with your interests and expertise. 3?? Build and Activate Your Network: Who do you need to connect with to achieve this goal? Attend events, engage with thought leaders, and nurture relationships within your target organisations. 4?? Leverage Thought Leadership: Publish content or participate in discussions that demonstrate your expertise in governance and leadership.

When you work with this level of clarity, every action flows logically from your primary goal.

The Simplicity of a One-Page Plan

A great strategy doesn’t need to be complex. In fact, the simpler it is, the better. Create a one-page plan that outlines:

• Your quarterly goals.
• The actions required to achieve them.
• A timeline for completing each action.

Review this plan weekly. Is it still relevant? Are you making progress? Adjust as needed, but stick to your overarching focus. This clarity will drive behaviour, which in turn drives results.

The Results Speak for Themselves

When clients adopt this structured approach, they secure board roles quarter after quarter. By the end of the year, they often have three or four quality appointments under their belt. Contrast that with executives who spend an entire year without securing even one role—it’s a clear sign that their strategy and clarity are lacking.

Beyond the Boardroom

This advice isn’t just for board searches. It applies to all aspects of your professional and personal life:

• Career Goals: What promotions or new roles do you want to achieve?
• Financial Goals: Are you clear on what you want to earn and save this year?
• Personal Development Goals: What skills or knowledge do you want to acquire?

When you commit your goals to paper, you’re far more likely to achieve them.

Your Call to Action

If you’re serious about making 2025 your most successful year yet, take the time now to gain clarity on what you want to achieve. Whether you’re looking to secure a board appointment, advance your career, or achieve personal growth, start with a clear plan.

At Tiger Boards, we specialise in helping executives build focused, actionable strategies to achieve their boardroom and career goals.

?? Explore our Board Portfolio? services: https://tigerboards.com.au/ ?? Schedule a consultation with Kylie Hammond: www.calendly.com/kyliehammond/tigerboards

Let’s make this the year you achieve your goals—one clear, strategic step at a time.

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