In the latest edition of our Unlocking Success series, we look at enhancing your career in becoming a non-executive director.
If you are coming to the end of your career, planning a career break or just want to change up your work routine without moving jobs then pursuing a role as a Non-Executive Director (NED) or a Board Advisory role could be the answer.
The wonderful thing about NED roles is that provide an interesting way to use your skills and experiences to help a company grow and become more successful. Many NED role holders will tell you that the gratification they get from these positions is well worth the time allocation as well as getting to use your knowledge in a positive way. Keen to achieve a career as a Non-Executive Director? We’ve shared some simple strategies you can employ to get started, check them out now.
Think About the People in Your Network
For any NED role, being able to network successfully is the key as most of these positions are shared through professional and personal networks rather than advertised directly. This means that you will need to think about expanding your networks in areas that interest you the most so that you can find NED roles as they are shared.
The good news is that there are many professional networks that you can use to expand your horizons! Start with your current and past employment networks and don’t forget to use online networks like LinkedIn too!
Be Open to New Ideas
NED roles can be daunting as they require you to use the depth of your knowledge for the best interests of the company you will be representing. However, this doesn’t mean that you need to come to the role with all the knowledge in place already.
In fact, it is important to be open to new learning so that you can properly prepare for the role before you start. Think about governance, financial and risk management, sustainability, leadership, and growth and be honest about where your current knowledge requires work. If you feel confident that you have the academic understanding, then don’t forget to stay up to date on current trends in your chosen industry!
Be Prepared to Try and Try Again
As NED roles are so popular, you may find that it takes a multitude of attempts before you are able to successfully achieve one. Many people find NED roles exciting and as they can support your progress or help you keep a hand in the industry that interests you, there will be many other competing for the same position.
One way to work around this is to consider roles that are pro-bono or time-limited as this will help to develop your experience, making you far more valuable for future NED roles that you apply for.
Know What You Have to Offer
As with any type of job, remembering what you specifically have to offer is the best way to show off your potential. The same can be said for NED roles, as long as you take the time to find out what they are looking for. Think about the organisation you want to work with, what they offer and how they sell themselves and then take that back to your own skills to find the alignment.
If you cannot find the alignment you want to sell yourself with, take the time to gain further experience or consider pivoting to a different NED role that is in greater alignment with your skills and experiences.
Finally
If you are looking for your next role or to employ new talent into your organisation, we can help.
For more information on how we can help you become or recruit the high-performing individuals you need, get in touch with us on 0870 042 1430 or email us here.
Marta Ortigas is a Director at Malikshaw Interim & Executive, a leading interim management and executive search firm exclusively focused on helping organisations achieve transformational change through delivering high performance, diverse, impactful talent teams.
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