Today, I’m writing about a career development strategy, which comes with an altruistic bonus – serving on a third sector (non-profit, charity or community) board or management committee. While these positions are generally unpaid, they are an excellent way to build professional reputations, develop a high profile, obtain leadership experience and take the first step towards gaining experience that could lead to a paid position on a corporate or government board in the future. Taking on a board or management committee role is a significant commitment, both personally and professionally, so there are a number of things to consider before deciding to apply.
Mission and Values
Firstly, you need to ensure that your personal ethics and drive are congruent with the mission, vision and day to day work of the board you are considering – there is no point, for example, in an animal liberationist seeking a position on the management committee of a fishing club, or someone with no interest in business joining the board of the local Chamber of Commerce – in both cases, it will only be a matter of time before you lose interest and leave.
Time Considerations
You also need to ensure that you have sufficient time and motivation to carry out the requirements of the role. While meetings themselves might only be scheduled for a few hours each month, there is generally a lot of outside hours work required of board members, for example reading and considering agenda items, perusing financials, preparing reports, sometimes representing the board or committee at forums and other public events, taking part in fundraising activities and often participating in discussions with your board colleagues outside scheduled meetings.
Reputation
The reputation of the board and the organisation, their legal history and financial viability are also important considerations, as board and management committee members have legal, financial and governance responsibilities that must be addressed.
Before Committing…
Before committing to join a board, you should also think about issues such as your fit with existing board members, the board’s governance framework and policies, its training for new board members and whether the role on offer is a good match with your own background, skills and experience. There is a lot to consider in deciding whether to make the commitment to join a third sector board, just as there is in deciding to take on any leadership role. But finding the right board is well worth the effort, not only from the career perspective, but also from the perspective of having the opportunity to bring your expertise to the table, to support a cause you care about.
