Board of Directors Recruitment – What do innovative companies look for in the selection of a new Board member?

A Board Member is an essential function in navigating a company’s future direction. When recruiting new members for a Board of Directors, the current Board Members desire candidates with fresh ideas and original thinking to be a significant and impactful contributor to the organization. Their uniqueness should have a philosophical alignment with the business, along with a mentality to give back to others in their personal and professional lives.

An innovative intellectual is fundamental to a strategic skillset for the governance of the company with a collaborative mentality. The diversity each individual brings with different life and work experiences help facilitate a well-rounded vision of the organization’s future.

Dedicating time and commitment with the eagerness to participate in meetings and beyond is a necessary attribute in a Board Member. The individual’s flexibility and preparedness are ideal in the board’s progression, immensely when they contribute questions, research, and creativity.

There is so much more to a Board of Directors than just attending meetings. Someone with futuristic views and able to identify trends contribute to being a valuable asset. Tangible attributes are valued when seeking new Board Members; however, intangible characteristics reach beyond tradition and appeal to innovative individuals.

Educational leadership can benefit significantly from blended learning by both formal education programs and virtual training. Bringing these two facets to key leaders can prove to be valuable in the development of building relationships, innovative thinking, and employee engagement within the organization.

The paradigm where everyone learns differently could be addressed by offering the opportunity for blended learning, as some excel from in-person institutions and others with webinars or virtual classrooms; bringing both options could provide a foundation that can be embedded in the workplace. Once critical leadership competencies are formed, these new behavioral skillsets can help bridge organizational gaps by building informal connections, fulfilling company goals, and guiding shared visions across all functions.

The combination of individually driven virtual learning and formal educational programs offers executive leadership the tools to provide a better overall workplace atmosphere.

Negotiating pay is a difficult situation when offered the job of your dreams. While the job description may check all of the boxes, compensation is also a major determinant in whether you should accept the position or not.

There is a certain threshold that employers will withstand when in the counteroffer stage of hiring. By doing your research and recognizing the market compensation wage bands, you will set yourself up for far better success than by countering the future of your career blindly. Trust the process as you think about negotiating an offer once it has been presented.  Seek counsel from a professional to guide and lead you through each phase of the negotiation.

When countering the offer, focus on why you want to join the organization and what is important to you at this stage of your career.   There are other benefits can be included as part of the compensation package which can include, commute time, work-hour flexibility, job responsibilities, family support, and ability to contribute in the strategic success of the company. Focus on how your dream job can transform more than just your bank account.

Countering what you feel is deserved can be effective when done properly. If conducted correctly, counteroffers can provide better benefits, incentives, job security, and ultimately pay for a job that was already a dream to begin with.

The holiday spirit is in the air, with businesses focusing on how they can give back to the community. While acts of gratitude positively affect personal health and happiness, there is also a strong correlation between charitable giving and boosting the bottom line.

By focusing on an impactful community cause, companies are able to connect on a deeper level with customers, partners and employees who share the same values to make a difference, opening the door for new and meaningful business ventures to arise beyond just the holiday season.

Beyond the public relations advantage that the spirit of giving provides, tax advantages also affect the bottom line. With a certain amount donated, organizations are able to claim a charitable deduction offering businesses the opportunity to give back with money not being a major deterrent to do so.

Taking a few moments out of the work day to volunteer at a local food bank or donate time to deliver presents to less fortunate children increases company visibility within the community and provides employees a unique insight into the culture that the organization was built on.

Giving of time and financial support to those in need is a simple and easy reminder to be grateful. When given the chance, employees develop a sense of accomplishment for their service and appreciation for the position they are in and the company providing the opportunity. Morale increases and the desire to work hard for a company that believes in helping those in need grows a bit stronger.

Confidence within the workplace is key to a successful career, and a portion of such confidence is the power that comes with knowing ones true value. Social interactions, energy and attitude play a major part in how people interact with one another in the workplace. Positive interactions are driven by value-led thoughts.

Believing that you have what it takes to make a powerful impact in your role and not accepting less than what is deserved solidifies the understanding of your self-worth. Have the confidence to say what you want because you know it is earned but also, have the humility to realize unrealistic expectations.

Evaluate who you are and who you want to be, while celebrating your accomplishments. Prioritizing your commitments and personally valuing who you are will translate into value in any situation.