About Being a Corporate Board Member
Corporate board members play a vital role in the overall governance of their organizations. Their primary responsibilities are to protect the company’s financial health by monitoring the company’s performance and managing risks. They also provide expertise in industry and corporate matters to help oversee and direct the company’s top management, such as CEOs and COOs.
Typically, the corporate board member are individuals who have a significant interest in the corporation and a financial stake in its success, such as investors or founders. However, some boards are comprised of external members who do not have a financial interest in the company and instead contribute expertise in their field. Regardless of their background, all board members are expected to perform their duties in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.
Board members are responsible for ensuring that the organization is governed in accordance with its mission, bylaws and governing documents. They must ensure that the organization is treating its employees and volunteers fairly and spending the money it raises in a way that is consistent with its goals and values. Board members must also be willing to ask probing questions of organizational leaders and executives to carry out their responsibilities.
Everything You Need to Know About Being a Corporate Board Member
While the responsibilities of a board member vary depending on the country, in general, a board of directors operates independently of management and focuses on a company’s major issues, rather than its day-to-day operations. In addition to overseeing the company, the board creates governing documents and sets policy, as well as hires and fires executive employees and reviews compensation packages. The board also ensures that the company is operating in compliance with laws and regulations.
Being a corporate board member requires an enormous amount of time, with 20 to 40 days per year spent on meetings and committee work. There are also many other responsibilities, such as meeting preparation, reviewing research on strategic items like talent assessments and investment proposals and educating yourself about the company’s competitive environment. In addition, the legal liability that comes with the position can be distracting at best and catastrophic at worst. Board members are protected by directors and officers insurance and other corporate measures, but they must be prepared to defend themselves against claims of wrongdoing made by shareholders or government regulators.
Becoming a board member can be a rewarding experience, but it is not for everyone. It’s essential to have a deep interest in the company, and you should be prepared for the commitment and hard work that come with it. The benefits, however, can be incomparable, and your interactions with fellow board members, management and the broader community will provide professional experiences that are unparalleled. In addition, networking opportunities with other business leaders can lead to future career opportunities, including in leadership roles. Several trends are converging to make it easier for people who have never served in the C-suite to land board seats and become successful in their new roles.