That might just be the ultimate humblebrag. A plain but unmistakable way to tell someone that you make a difference in your community, or that you’re working in some other way to change the world for the better.
You’ve probably noticed that not everyone has the honor of serving on a corporate or nonprofit or community board of directors. Perhaps because you, yourself, are among them.
Which might lead you to ask: How does one get invited to this seemingly exclusive club, anyway? Can one invite themselves?
The answer is actually pretty interesting. Keeping in mind that every board is different and individual directors’ pathways vary, here’s the short version.
Let Your Reputation Precede You
This is the “classic” way to become a board member, and a key reason why the median age of U.S.-based corporate directors is over 60 as of 2022.
Not that it’s a bad thing. Experience goes hand in hand with competence. That’s why many repeat corporate board members are serial executives or entrepreneurs who’ve built and scaled multiple companies. People like EarthLink founder Sky Dayton, who has several post-EarthLink exits under his belt and sits on a half-dozen corporate boards.
Folks of this caliber tend to get found, not the other way around. If you’re fortunate enough to be among them, or hope to be in due time, you likely will be as well.
Seek Out Low-Stakes Opportunities
On the other end of the “board spectrum” are comparatively low-stakes opportunities with smaller, localized organizations like homeowners’ associations or community nonprofits. Most such organizations have competitive board elections, but “competitive” is often a technical term; many aspiring members run unopposed.
Run For It (Literally)
In cases where “competitive” is a fair descriptor of the board selection process, you do need to put yourself out there and make a positive case for why you’re the best person for the job. Don’t worry: This isn’t going to be an all-out political campaign, and it won’t cost you much (if anything). But you will need to think about where you stand in relation to other candidates and what those voting on your nomination are looking for in a board member, and position yourself accordingly.
Hold Yourself Out As an Expert
Whether you’re formally running for a seat or not, it often helps to position yourself as an expert in the organization’s field or niche. You’ll often hear this described as “industry alignment,” but it doesn’t have to mean that you work in the same industry as the organization itself. In fact, it’s often best to work in a domain (for example, human resources or accounting) that the organization is looking to fill gaps in, but in a “day job” in a different industry.
Pitch Yourself As a Breath of Fresh Air
Another reliable way to get noticed by those responsible for staffing boards is to pitch yourself as somehow different than most current directors. For example, many organizations now seek younger members in their 20s and 30s, writes corporate governance expert Harry Kraemer — opening up opportunities for “nontraditional” directors looking to make their mark early on in their careers.
Ready to Serve?
Not everyone who deserves to sit on a corporate or community board actually gets to do so. The world would be a better place if the pathways to directorship were more equitable, that’s for sure.
Now that you know at least some of the ways boards staff up, though, you can start to think about how you might best put your time and talents to good use. Whether it’s your homeowners’ association or neighborhood group, or a community-focused or faith-based nonprofit organization, there’s a good chance you’re part of (or close to) an entity that could use the help.
Why not let them know you’re ready to serve? There’s little to lose and much to be gained.
