5 Reasons why you should be on the board of directors

Wondering what your next career move should be?

With all the knowledge and accomplishments you’ve garnered, you should be in a boardroom. Yes, your motivation can be different from your colleague. Which one of the five reasons makes you feel you should be there now?

Intellectual Challenge
Are you curious George who likes to learn more every single day? Board duties will provide you with the opportunity to expand your horizons.

If you’re applying for a board position in a different industry than yours you will need to understand the sector, its competitive landscape and unique challenges to be able to make valuable contributions.

Cyril Houle, a governance expert & author categorizes board responsibilities broadly into 3 categories that provide an overall direction to the organization. Governance i.e. defining policies to give overall direction; Management to ensure appropriate human resources and ample funding; last but not the least Operations, activities related to the delivery of products & services.

Board responsibilities are very distinct from those in the executive roles and allow you to look at companies more holistically and enhance your understanding of a range of topics like Corporate Responsibility, Governance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Market Growth and others.

Personal Branding
Do you feel you want to give something back to society?
Nonprofit boards are an excellent way to positively affect change or support organizations working towards a cause you are passionate about. Finding the right organization that aligns with your passions will help you grow your brand, something unique to you. Being on the board to provide specific knowledge you have acquired can be a very rewarding experience.

Network Expansion
Are you someone who loves making connections, social and professional? Board is an excellent way of getting there. Expand your network, engage with leaders passionate about growing their network. This new network provides you with new opportunities in your career advancement, more board roles or just exchange of ideas with people with different knowledge and experience.

Remuneration
Being on the board of publicly listed or private companies gives an excellent opportunity to increase your income. While I do believe this cannot be the sole motivation to be in the boardroom because if you’re not someone who has other interests like growing your network, seeking challenges, serving communities or any other, board room will become bored room for you!

Excellence in the current role
Are you in constant pursuit of seeking excellence in your current role? Being on the board can give you a new perspective. It allows you to hone the knowledge of other board members and transfer knowledge from other industry segments.

What’s your motivation? Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you.