Joining a corporate board can be a fantastic opportunity to advance your career and expand your professional network, strengthen your business skills, and boost your income. Historically, most board positions were awarded to current or retired CEOs, CTOs, and existing board members, limiting opportunities for outsiders to the company. In today’s business landscape, the recruiting pool for corporate board positions has expanded significantly. Now is the perfect time to make your move.
The Advantages of Joining a Corporate Board
1. Access new career opportunities and expand your professional network.
Joining a corporate board allows you to
showcase your professional expertise and expand your career in new directions,
introduce yourself as a board member of the given company, earning respect and enhancing your reputation among your peers and the general public, and
connect with your fellow board members and forge important business ties and expand your network.
2. Hone your business skills and expand your professional network.
Joining a corporate board offers an invaluable opportunity to learn. You can
hone your corporate strategy and decision-making skills as you work through the business issues, challenges, and opportunities that confront the board (some directors say it’s like earning a mini-MBA every year), and
gain valuable insights into a new industry.
3. Bolster your finances.
Joining a corporate board comes with a great financial incentive. Directors typically earn between six and seven figures, with earnings dependent on the particular company and its success in the stock market. For many directors, the intangible benefits are more important than the monetary reward, but the extra money hardly hurts.
Writing a Business Book: Your Path to a Relevant Board Position
One of the most effective ways to increase your chances of earning a corporate board position is by writing a business book. If you don’t have the time or book writing expertise to write it yourself, don’t worry—most published business authors hire ghostwriters. We’d love to help you publish your business book. Take a look at our highly customizable ghostwriting packages.
How to Earn a Corporate Board Position
Follow these six strategies to enhance your candidacy and improve your chances of securing a position on the board of your choice.
1. Choose the right company.
Serving on a corporate board can be a significant time investment, so make your selection wisely. Ideally, you want to join a company you’re interested in and where you’ll be able to both grow your career and make a meaningful contribution.
2. Enhance your specialty skills, especially in tech.
The following specialties can make you an attractive board candidate:
Cybersecurity
Artificial intelligence
Machine learning
Digital transformation
If you’re not familiar with any sought-after specialty, now’s the time to start learning.
3. Develop relevant skills by joining nonprofit boards and board organizations.
It can be beneficial to join the board of a relevant nonprofit organization that will equip you with experience and skills needed for success on a for-profit board. Additionally, organizations such as Athena Alliance and Directors League provide coaching, mentorship, peer-to-peer support, and other help for current and aspiring board members.
4. Strengthen your network.
LinkedIn and other social media platforms are a great resource for forging meaningful business connections, but you should also reach out to existing board members, executives, and advisors at companies you’re interested in. You can develop a relationship over shared connections, such as the same alma mater, serving on similar nonprofit boards, or volunteering for similar causes.
5. Promote yourself and your professional brand.
You need to actively market yourself to gain visibility, such as by publishing articles or speaking at conferences. Make sure to communicate your interest in joining a board. Continuous self-promotion throughout your career will serve you well both on and off a corporate board.
6. Write a business book.
One of the most effective ways to promote yourself in the business world is by writing a business book, which positions you as a thought leader in your field and earns you automatic respect from peers and consumers alike. A business book is like a long-form résumé that you fully control—there’s no better way to advertise your skills, knowledge, and experience to boards. You don’t have to write it yourself (most business book authors don’t). Instead, you can hire professional ghostwriters to write the story of your business and career in your own voice.
How to Make the Most of Your New Board Position
Once you’ve earned a position on a corporate board, it’s time to get to work. These six tips can help you prepare for and make the most of your prestigious new position.
1. Don’t do something dramatic to prove yourself.
Take some time to learn the culture and inner workings of the board and develop relationships with the other members before you suggest dramatic changes.
2. Understand your own strengths.
Consider what you bring to the table with your unique background of experiences and skill sets, and use that knowledge to guide your contributions to the board. It’s okay to ask company management or other board members where your skills could be most useful.
3. Learn all about the company.
It’s crucial to acquaint yourself with the company and its business model, culture, strategy, financials, and senior management, so spend some time studying prior to your first board meeting. Reach out to your new fellow board members and get to know them as well.
4. Find a mentor.
A mentor can round out your knowledge about the company and the board dynamics and help you be more effective in your role. Don’t hesitate to ask them for direct feedback about your participation in meetings.
5. Hone your conflict-management skills.
The right way to approach problems at any given company depends on its culture and the context of the issues. Learn about the background of different problems at the company, and take a collaborative approach, especially in your early meetings.
6. Establish credibility on the board.
After you’ve had the time to get acquainted with the company, your fellow board members, and your new responsibilities, you can start to develop your own voice on the board. You can draw on your existing career experience to inform your participation, including your business book, if you’ve published one. A published book will allow other board members to understand your background and respect your expertise in your niches, helping you cultivate a productive and fruitful presence on the board.
Publishing a business book is one of the best ways to promote yourself for a corporate board position.
A business book is a compilation of your best business insights, offering readers a glimpse into your professional experience and expertise. With a published business book, you can effortlessly position yourself as a thought leader in your industry, which makes it much easier to capture the attention of leaders at top companies. Our team of professional ghostwriters can write your book in your own voice as part of any one of our tailored ghostwriting packages, paving your way to directorship.