Boards

8 signs you’re ready to join a NFP Board

June 22, 2020 by Alicia Curtis

Are you ready to join a NFP board?

It’s time to step it up! You might have a burning desire to change the world for the better. You might want to put your leadership and teamwork skills to the ultimate test. Or you know it’s time to use your voice for the good of others and the community.
Quite literally, the experience of contributing to a board can be life-changing!

When you can connect to a deeper purpose in life, one that’s above personal gain, fame, or fortune – something that truly means something and makes a difference – it’s a game-changer. Serving on a board gives you the opportunity to make an immense difference. It also broadens your networks and creates deep and long lasting relationships. Not to mention the opportunity to learn SO many new skills at the same time! It really can be one of the best leadership development opportunities you can come by.

But it’s a huge decision! How do you know when it’s the right time to jump in?

Here are eight signs that it could be the right time for you to join a NFP Board.

1. You have the time and energy to commit to a board

First things first – do you have the time to truly commit? Some people are surprised at how much time and effort a board position can take. And you don’t want to take on a board role only to find that you don’t have the time to really give it your best.
So how long do you need? Do you have 5 – 15 hours per month to contribute to a board position?

This time could include board meetings, sub-committee meetings, annual strategy sessions, leadership responsibilities, representing the organisation at external events, as well as social activities where you represent the board internally. Ensure you have the time to give!

2. You are ready to work effectively with others to fulfill the mission of the organisation.

As a board, you will work closely with other board members to fulfil the mission of the organisation. You will want to check out who is serving on the board before you accept any position. Because you’ll be working pretty closely together!

Truth time!

Are you an effective team player who communicates well with others, shows emotional intelligence in the boardroom, and can lead sub-committees or volunteers to work on aspects of the organisation? You might want to get some critical feedback and ways to improve before you hit the boardroom.

Boardroom behaviours are so important when you are working in short spaces of time e.g board meetings! Leaving egos at the door and working effectively with others (however different to you) is a MUST!

3. You’ve done your due diligence

What does due diligence even mean? Simply put, it’s the research or investigation you do before commiting to something to avoid any trouble. So in a board context, you want to ensure the organisation has the appropriate insurances, is registered with the appropriate bodies, and is financially solvent!

Do you know the right questions to ask before accepting a position? Have you done your own research about the board and organisation?

Reading the annual report, checking the finances of the organisation, and understanding the brand/history of the organisation is a MUST. And this could be just the start of your due diligence. You want to make sure the organisation is suitable before signing up as a board director.

4. You understand your responsibilities as a board director

The best board members understand the unique role the board plays within an organisation – strategy, governance, financial oversight, compliance, risk management, etc. It’s nose in, fingers out! This means you have to have a good understanding of what is going on in the organisation without getting involved in the details.

Perhaps you need to educate yourself about the roles of governance before stepping up? Do you understand the difference between the board and management of a community organisation? Are you sure of the liabilities that you take on?

Having a thorough understanding of what’s expected of you as a director is integral. It will give you peace of mind knowing you are fulfilling the role appropriately.

5. You understand the board’s expectations of you

Most boards will have some type of recruitment process that may include a position description. This will outline the key expectations of the role in terms of hours, skills, and knowledge preferred or required and the meeting schedule. This is a great starting point, and you may have further questions about the cultural fit between you and the board too.

You might also want to explore YOUR expectations and the type of experience you are expecting. Are you looking for a formal board role? Something more relaxed and grassroots? Do you like the excitement of a start-up or are you interested in contributing to a more established organisation?

It’s definitely best to have these conversations before joining any board!

6. You understand the NFP sector landscape including the current challenges and opportunities

It’s called the third sector for a reason – Not-for-profits are different to the corporate and government sectors!
If you have not been involved in the NFP sector, it’s time to do your research and read up!

Reading NFP publications, attending conferences and events, and understanding the broader trends that affect mission-based organisations are good strategies for being an effective board member. There are also online blogs, LinkedIN groups, and peak organisations to improve your NFP knowledge.

Boards are looking for directors who have their finger on the pulse, who can identify the key trends, and translate that back to the organisation.

7. You understand your own value proposition and what you can contribute

You need to be really clear about what you offer. What value do you bring to the table?

And it actually takes a fair amount of self awareness to understand the value that you provide and be able to effectively communicate it. Sometimes people might know the value that they can bring but can’t articulate it very well at a networking event or through their board resume.

Your board value may include your skills and expertise. But it could also include your networks, your lived experience, or your ability to step into leadership roles down the track e.g Sub Committee Chair or Board Secretary.

8. You’ve found an organisation that aligns with your purpose and values

In your search, you will want to do the mission test.

Do you wholeheartedly believe in the mission of the organisation and picture yourself standing as a proud ambassador for the organisation?

This is the mission test!

The richness comes from finding an organisation whose mission aligns with your purpose and values. That means you have to know what your own purpose and values are to find that right fit for you.

This is worth the time and effort because when you find a board and organisation that truly aligns with your own purpose and values, the energy and reward you feel for your contribution will make the time and work all worthwhile!

How did you go?

I know what you’re thinking!

There is much work to be done before signing up to be a board director.

Boards are looking for directors who understand the above and are ready to fully commit to the term of the board. When all the stars align, you will know you’re onto a winner!

Now over to you: How many of the above do you feel comfortable with? Which areas do you need to improve before you’re ready to join a NFP board?

Do you want to be a board director?

May 25, 2020 by Alicia Curtis

I’ve spent so many years helping aspiring directors get onto their first community board and I can tell you, the feeling never gets old! There are now so many success stories from my course Board Ignition, it’s wonderful to follow their journeys onto the boards of their dreams!

Meet Samantha

Sam is a passionate health advocate. She was worried that she didn’t have a lot of experience with Not-For-Profit organisations or governance and also wanted to know where to go to find a board position. She participated in my signature Board Ignition course and answered a few questions with me PLUS shared her insights through a video interview below too.

Why did you join the Board Ignition course?

I joined the Board Ignition course because it gave me an opportunity to explore my desire to serve my community, build good governance skills and understand what leadership prospects I was interested in pursuing. This program has provided me with far more than I could have anticipated the course, activities and networks has provided me with clarity of my skills, ambitions, confidence in my abilities and direction on the areas that I am lacking.

What surprised you most about the course?

It has been the flexibility of the course which allows participants to learn and action tasks at your own pace. I found this to be the most surprising and supportive aspect of the course.

What did you enjoy the most about the Board Ignition course?

The most valuable part of the course was the practical tasks that built confidence to build networks and ultimately to secure a NFP position

The modules are very comprehensive and action oriented. The course is designed to provide you with the core competencies and background of NFP’s. Then the confidence to network and get to action in gaining a board position.

In what ways did it really help you with your goal to become a board director?

This course has been so well thought out by Alicia. It provides a great mix of course work and practical experience, along with an active and supportive group online that can be contacted anytime. I would highly recommend this course to anyone considering NFP Boards or a desire to work in leadership roles.

And the results? What’s happened since you completed the course?

I have now been appointed to a NFP. I have joined the Health Consumers Council of WA as the Treasurer as of November 2018. Finally, this course provided me with personalised and supportive mentorship of Alicia Curtis and communities of leaders in the program. The confidence that this has instilled within me is immeasurable.

Check out my interview with Samantha

About Board Ignition

Board Ignition is a dynamic online course that helps you fast track your board journey to get your first board position and serve a community organisation. There are 8 modules to the course which you can complete at your own pace (while you also receive an 8 week email series to help you discover the modules). Check out the course here.

Join before 18th June and attend our next Board Ignition live Online Summit with current participants and alumni!

How much time does a NFP Board position take?

April 13, 2020 by Alicia Curtis

Want to carve out time and space for thinking and reflection in 2020? Join me once a month online for 90 minutes for reflection, inspiration and connection. Our next gathering is on the 28 April and you can use the coupon bemyguest to try it for free for the first time. Or better yet, commit to growing your reflection muscle by registering for all the 2020 Alyceum Live gatherings here.

Before you read further, take a moment to estimate how many hours a week/month a role on a NFP Board involves? What would be your guess?

Serving on a community board is a wonderful opportunity. When you find the right board role for you, it should energise you despite the time you devote to it. It may energise you through the tasks you are completing, the people you are working with (your fellow board directors) or the impact you are creating.

Let’s face it though, it’s really important to understand exactly the hours involved in a NFP Board position before you accept. The true answer to the time questions above is that it depends on the board, role and organisation as to many hours you need to commit.

However let me break down what the commitment could look like so you can get a sense of the components of a board role.

Board Meetings

Most Boards would meet either monthly, every second month or quarterly from 2 hours to 5 hours each. This would be your core responsibility to prepare, meet and participate.

Most board meetings might require this same time again in preparing for board meetings by reading the board papers, thinking through decisions and questions. You may pose these questions to the CEO or staff before a meeting or let them know that you will ask these questions at the meeting. You may also need to prepare reports for the meeting yourself such as Sub Committee reports, Board papers with an idea or suggestion, or you may have prepared a piece of work for the Board’s consideration such an update to a policy document.

Board meetings are the foundations of your board responsibility so attendance at each and every one is critical.

Sub Committee Meetings

Most Boards have Sub Committees that you would either lead or play a role in to support the Board in the work that’s required.

These Sub Committees have their own Terms of Reference and meetings can occur sometime occur less often than a Board meeting for 1- 2 hours. These Sub Committees could include Governance, Audit and Risk, Financial/Budget, Fundraising, Board Nominations, Clinical Governance and Marketing and Communications as examples.

Sub Committees are used to delegate work by the Board so they can focus their time at Board meetings. Sub Committees can provide information and make recommendations to the Board for action that’s needed.

Annual Strategy Session/s

Most boards may have a separate session focused on reviewing the strategy. This could involve a day or two to review the current strategy, monitor progress of the strategy or develop a new strategy. It may be an off site event where the board travels to a different location. There may also be a number of meetings to prepare for the annual strategy session too.

Leadership Responsibilities

If you hold any leadership responsibilities (Board Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Sub Committee Chair), this will involve further hours to prepare, connect with staff or your fellow board members. Preparation could include developing reports, agendas, work with the CEO or gather information for the Board papers. And let’s not forget emails too – this is a responsibility of all board directors!

Representation

You may be called to represent the board at further meetings and events. This could include meeting various stakeholders, speaking at events on behalf of the organisation, attending networking events or meeting with donors.

Social Activities

Many organisations have a range of social activities that board directors can or must be involved with. This may give board members an opportunity to meet and speak with staff, members or recipients of their services. This could include Christmas parties, National Volunteer Week or an annual awards celebrations. Some boards may share dinner together before or after a board meeting too.

So how much does this equal to?
So a Board commitment could be anywhere between one to four days a month. This would mostly be done outside of normal working hours. In fact, in a previous Australian Institute of Company Directors NFP Governance Report, it suggested that most NFP Board members contributes 35 days a year to their board position. 35 days per year is just under 3 days a month.

So how does that sit with your expectations of serving on a NFP board?

Surprised at the commitment? Ready for the commitment? It’s definitely good to know what you’re in for!

Best Books for Aspiring Board Directors

March 30, 2020 by Alicia Curtis

One of the questions I get asked often is my recommended reading list for aspiring or new board directors. Please note these recommendations are skewed very much for Not-For-Profit boards as that’s where my experience lies. I am also a big book nerd who loves reading about the processes, culture and people that make boards work effectively. A book to me is like an intimate chat with the author, listening to their knowledge and experience on a subject, and what better topic than boards to soak in the wisdom and experience of others!

Eyes Wide Open by Robyn Weatherley

This is a fantastic book and if you’re a new or aspiring board director, you should definitely check this one out now, go!

I interview the author, Robyn Weatherley in the Board Ignition course as she has written my number one recommendation for new and aspiring directors! I love Robyn’s book as it is jam packed with great information and advice. And it’s easy to read too!

Difference Makers by Dr Nicky Howe and Alicia Curtis

I have to plug my own book, right?

This is a great read on an emerging issue for ALL board directors – the beauty and brilliance of diversity in the boardroom. It shares the story of how the Engaging Young Leaders on Aged Care and Community Boards was started and also delves into the research to prove diversity is an advantage in the boardroom.

Not-For-Profit Board Dilemmas by Julie Garland McLellan

Julie is an Australian governance expert and her books are pure gold! Not-For-Profit Dilemmas gives you fantastic NFP case studies on regular issues that might be faced along with two expert opinions following each case study providing perspectives on what to do or should have been done.

101 Boardroom problems and how to solve them by Eli Mina

Oh, the boardroom can be an interesting place!

There is such a range of challenges that can plague the boardroom and Eli gives you a succinct and easy to read overview of all of them and some strategies to overcome them too. All great boards are striving to improve, this book gives an aspiring or new director an overview of the challenges that can and will occur on all boards so you can pinpoint and act appropriately.

Building Better Boards: A Blueprint for Effective Governance by David A. Nadler, Beverly Behan, Mark Nadler

I found this a really interesting and useful read about what makes top boards tick. The only caveat I would make is that it is a little dated now being written in 2005 and it’s also written for an American corporate context. That being said, I did find it easy to read and had many strategies that would be useful in the NFP context too.

Directors at Work: A Practical Guide for Boards by Geoffrey Kiel, Gavin Nicholson, Jennifer Ann Tunny and James Beck

This is a great reference book for board directors in Australia. It is a hefty book but this means it’s thorough. It includes the governance processes and procedures as well as the behavioural dynamics that support good governance. You definitely need at least one reference book like this in your collection. I highly recommend this be the one.

These are just a few…

Of course, there are many, many books on board governance, culture and the Not-For-Profit sector. Shout out too to a colleague, Paul Smith over in the eastern states of Australia on releasing his new book, Right Seat, Right Table too.

I would love to hear about the books you’ve come across in my Facebook group, Alyceum Leaders.

Think you’re too young to join a board, think again!

November 18, 2019 by Alicia Curtis

Is your mindset holding you back from a board role? I’ve heard a lot of barriers that stop people from their aspirations of serving on a board. The two main ones I hear are:

• I’m too young

• I don’t have enough experience

And actually, all those beliefs might be true – you might be young and inexperienced, but you do have skills, you have networks, you have lived experiences, you have a perspective and a curiosity that may be useful to some community organisations.

Plus if you’re willing to learn fast, commit to the responsibilities of a board directorship, work hard, be a strong team player, be humble and be an advocate – you might just be stopping some community organisation from gaining a fantastic board director – you!

So the question is… are you holding yourself back?

Meet Cecilia

Cecilia is a 23 year old solicitor who is involved in commercial litigation and human rights law. She had an aspiration to become a board director and give back to society but thought she was too young and inexperienced to pursue this aspiration straight away. Cecilia attended an UN panel discussion and heard Alicia Curtis speak about the importance of diversity in governance and the role of young directors in the boardroom and this challenged Cecilia’s perception. She signed up for the Board Ignition course straight away!

Check out my full interview with Cecilia here..

Or read our conversation here.

Hi Cecilia. Thank you so much for joining me. Now, you did the Board Ignition course and I’d love to hear a little bit about your experiences with the course. But before we get started can you just tell me a little bit about yourself?

Yes, I can. I’m 23 years old, and I’m a solicitor. I’m experienced in commercial litigation and human rights law and I was interested in being a more valuable part of the community.

So tell me what made you want to join the Board Ignition course? You wanted to step up your volunteering. Tell us about that.

Well I’ve done a little bit of volunteering in the past and I just felt really good when I was sort of being more than just a passenger like a member of society. But when I started working full time I stopped really making time for any volunteering. So, I was really just developing my skills related to my job and leaving my other skills behind and I was looking for something more. I thought about joining a board but I just saw that as more of a long-term goal for when I was more experienced. I didn’t think that someone at the beginning of their legal career was going to get a position on a board. And I actually went to a panel discussion run by the UN in Australia that you were on the panel for and you were talking about how young people do have a place on boards and I was like, oh wow maybe I should do this now, maybe it’s not a long-term goal. So, I got in touch about the talk and I found out about the course and just thought what a great way to use the skills I have to make that valuable contribution but then to also be able to get involved with an area that I like that it’s not related to my job.

Yeah, absolutely. It gives your life a really lovely balance, doesn’t it? You’ve got your work and you’re volunteering and your family.

I think it’s really valuable to have a sense of achievement that doesn’t relate to what your paid job, like an everyday job is.

You’ve realised that you can actually give your technical skills to the community as well as to your work as well. So, I’m so glad that you were inspired at that event to just reframe, you know, who can be board directors and realise the value that you could bring onto the board. So, what made you consider the board ignition course? What did you like about it? Were you hesitant about anything before you joined?

I wasn’t hesitant about anything. I liked the sound of the board ignition course because you can do it at your own pace. Because a big thing for me was like am I gonna have time to do this with work and everything? But I was just really relieved to know that it’s kind of just the materials are there and you can do 3 modules in a day if you really feel like it and then you can sort of put on the back burner for a few weeks. That’s what really appealed to me. And I also really liked that your role was quite hands on. So, it wasn’t just reading a course and at the end you just sort of aren’t able to ask questions or clarify things, that guidance for me was what really pushed me to do it.

And tell me what was some of the most valuable parts of the course for you? Did you like the video interviews or was it the reading or the practical challenges, what was it for you?

I found the board director interviews were really valuable. Being able to hear from people who are actually on boards and to understand in a practical sense how their roles work was very interesting and something that I don’t think I’d be able to go and find on my own if I hadn’t done the course. I mean you can find books and reading but to be able to hear directly from people who are doing it was very valuable. But in my case the practical challenge in module 2 which was to attend an AGM I thought that was probably the most valuable thing that I did during the course because again I was like “oh why would I go to an AGM? What am I going to say?” And it was through searching for AGMs to go to that I found that WA Youth Theatre company were having an AGM and that’s what led me to sort of end up in the position.

So, tell me about the WA Youth Theatre Company and just, you know, what’s happened since you doing the Board Ignition course.

Well I found out that they were having an AGM and that they actually had some spots on their board. So, I went revised my coursework, got in touch with the manager and the chair of the board and sort of was like Hi I’m interested, I really like the arts, so, I thought that would be a good place for me to make a contribution. Remembering the Ted Talk by Chris Gardner, I don’t remember which week it was; he said passion is not enough. And when he said that that really resonated with me because there are a lot of things that I’m interested in and I’m passionate about like you know human rights or helping people with disabilities. But I realised I need to pick an area that I’m kind of up to date with and able to actually make a contribution to. That’s more valuable than just being like, hey I really like this. So, I was in touch with them, they were really keen, I got to know some of the members before the AGMs so that when it came to the AGM I wasn’t doing my pitch to a room of strangers and I got elected and that was fantastic. And I’m actually, it only happened two days ago, I’m now the secretary.

Oh, great job. So amazing. And it’s just so great to hear you’re reflecting on some of the key learnings that you have gained from the course and how beneficial it has been through your journey to getting onto board as well. These things, they’re not difficult to learn, any really intelligent, passionate, determined person can pick up on these things but I find with boards it’s still a secret society and we just don’t give a range of people an opportunity to learn about this and how they can give back in this way. And once they pick up and they know the difference between boards and management, yes passion is good but it’s not enough for board directors. You know you can get onto the right pathway to finding the right board position for you. It’s something that’s very well aligned with your skills experience, knowledge, passion, networks and history. So, it’s so great to hear your story.

So, were there any other parts of the program that really helped you with achieving this goal of being a board director?

I think it was really important not only to talk about how boards work in a practical sense but also being able to understand that board directors have legal obligations that are quite serious. I think is really important because then when you’re coming onto a board for the first time you’re not in the dark you really understand the magnitude of your role and the scope of your role. That was a really important part of the course that really legitimises what you’re doing.

Absolutely. I think it’s so important just to be really clear about the expectations of board directors. What are they coming in there to do? What’s their legal obligations? What’s the time commitment involved? And to make sure that you can sign off on all of those areas so you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into as well.

So, you know I’m just really pleased to hear your story. Is there anything else you want to share about you know maybe things that you really enjoyed or surprised you about the course or any pieces of advice that you would give that people who are maybe considering the board ignition course and wondering whether it’s right for them?

My advice would be to just do it. It’s so great. And to not be worried if they’re a few weeks that past where you haven’t looked at it, it’s always there and you can always go back to it which is great. And what’s really good about it is it caters to different learning styles. If you’re not someone who likes a lot of reading just watch the videos and you get the gist of it and the videos are even summarised if you don’t have time to watch the videos. It’s really got all different types of resources so it caters to everyone and I think that’s really important and it makes it less daunting.

Yeah, absolutely. We want to try and make it as easy as possible for people to commit and being involved and gather this information and really help them on their journey. And you’re so true like there’s no feeling of being behind because even if you sign up and it takes you 3 months to get into the coursework it’s there for you at any stage. And we do do live launches of the course so you know if you miss one or you sort of get a little bit behind you can always catch up in the next live round, ask questions of the Facebook group and just really take it in the way that is gonna best suit you.

But what you’ve done is take it one step further and put it into action and now you know you get into the fun stuff of actually being an advocate and an ambassador and somebody who’s sitting at the table, getting to make those decisions and direct the vision and the values of a not for profit organisation. So, well done to you.

Thank you.

And thank you so much for sharing your journey with us today, I really appreciate that.

About Board Ignition

Hot tip to get a board appointment

July 22, 2019 by Alicia Curtis

Many people ask me…

What networking events should I attend to meet board directors?
How do I learn more about the NFP sector? and
How can I understand more about board governance?

Well, I’ve got ONE suggestion for an event that answers all three questions above!

All NFPs (associations) have this event and most will host this event every year (many will run them Aug/Sept/Oct every year).

Have you guessed what it is yet?

It’s an Annual General Meeting or AGM!

Now, what’s your first thought when you hear the word AGM? Boring? Pass? Or something similar?

Trust me, I’ve been to my fair share of yawn worthy AGMs but to be honest, I’ve also been to AGMs where the organisation has at least tried to be interesting. Some organisations will try and have their AGMs done in 30 minutes flat and other organisations involve lunch and a keynote speaker.

BUT…

What is one of the main orders of business at an AGM?

Board nominations and elections!

Who attends AGMs?

Board directors!

So AGMs can be a very interesting place to network, observe and learn. There will usually be copies of the Annual Report where you can read about the achievements of the last year and plans for the future. You might also learn more about the organisation’s constitution such as what’s the objectives of the organisation, who can be a member, who can be a board director and how are board directors voted in.

So what AGMs can you attend?

Think about all the organisations of which you are a member of such as community organisations, industry associations, member-based organisations or sporting clubs. You should receive notice of the upcoming AGM as a member.
Think about organisations you could become a member of. Once you are a member, you will receive the newsletters, invitations to events and you will have the opportunity to vote in the board elections.
Some organisations may open their AGMs to the public and you will be able to observe the proceedings such as peak bodies. These events are great as they may have CEOs and board directors of a number of organisations attending.

With AGM season looming for many organisations, get yourself to a few and see what happens!

Now over to you: Have you been to an AGM before? Or are you planning on attending one this year? Head to the Alyceum Leaders group to share your thoughts!

8 signs you’re ready to join a NFP Board

1. You have the time and energy to commit to a board