Looking for companies with a culture accepting of women in senior roles is critical but so too is your own level of confidence. Women still have a long way to go evidently. According to the results from the Silicon Valley Bank’s (SVB) Innovation Economy Outlook 2014 survey, which focused exclusively on the representation of women in technology leadership positions, less than … [Read more...]
Onboarding: Advice for New Directors and “Fit” With the Board
One way to help with onboarding a new director is to focus not just on skills but also on cultural fit—how well will the new director fit with the way their fellow directors work. New directors and sitting directors can become more effective and influential by examining these three ideas: 1) The difference between the actual role and the expectations the new director has … [Read more...]
The Importance of Asking Questions Before You Join a Board
As a board consultant, I have heard a number of stories from first-time directors who gained a board seat only to discover troubling issues ‘after’ accepting the board position. The single most important task before you join a board is due diligence. Instead of merely examining the rewards of board service, a board candidate needs to explore both the risks and rewards. … [Read more...]
Situational Awareness in the Boardroom
If you want to be influential in the boardroom, foresight is essential. To do this, a director must anticipate the conversational direction and decision-making voices in a dynamic boardroom debate. To begin the process of becoming more influential, start with observing. Watch the actions of the directors during the board meeting, and ask yourself the following … [Read more...]
Approaches to Board Succession Planning
The combination of a company’s strategic and board succession plans can be a framework to begin the conversation around director search. Directors and management will most probably have differing ideas about what skills and experience should drive the search for the next director. To focus the conversation at the nominating committee level, here are a few approaches that … [Read more...]
The Board Candidate’s Guide to Networking
Great networkers have a variety of people they connect with on their professional journey. Some people have prestige and can open doors; others will be mentors and guide you with insightful commentary. Here are four key types of people to connect with and build your board-level network: 1. Foundation Foundational supporters run the gamut from friends to business peers. … [Read more...]
3 Ways For Women To Sound Like Leaders
I have been a voice expert helping professionals sound like leaders for 19 years. During that time, I have seen many well-intentioned articles, blog posts, books, television commentators, and radio hosts tackle the issue of the best way women should speak in the workplace. Let us stop for a moment of silence in praise of the women who have tried to follow all this advice. … [Read more...]
Future-Focused Board Succession Planning
Board succession is all about integrated thinking, foresight, and decision-making rationale. It is common practice for the governance committee to develop and maintain a matrix that outlines the skills, age, length of service, and background of each sitting director. A forward-thinking board looks at the next five to ten years and defines skills, experiences and overall … [Read more...]
Inquiring Minds Want to Know about Board Evaluations
Fundamentally, a board evaluation is an opportunity for boards as a collective body to increase their effectiveness based on feedback the evaluation provides. Continuous improvement and development of board and board committee processes and procedures is imperative to ensuring board effectiveness. Today, there is an increased level of acceptance and sophistication in board … [Read more...]
3 Networking Questions to be Ready to Answer as a Board Candidate
Many board candidates are attending high-level corporate governance conferences and educational events. They meet other directors and have the chance to develop relationships that may lead to being considered for a future board seat. The best way to connect with professionals in this audience is to give them a very good reason. If you fail to specifically state your value … [Read more...]