Selection may involve a formal panel, meetings with a chair or owners and references from people familiar with your work. Throughout the process, assess whether the board has a clear mandate, reliable information, appropriate controls and a culture that permits independent judgement, while also establishing the applicable legal duties, conflicts of interest and protections available to directors before an appointment is accepted.
Where to start
- Prepare answers explaining why the board interests you, what you would contribute and why the appointment is appropriate now, using specific evidence.
- Review the governing documents, recent financial statements, public disclosures and board composition, then record the matters that require further investigation.
- Discuss your answers with a mentor or sponsor and prepare the questions you need resolved before deciding whether to accept an offer.
Ask yourself
- What authority does this board exercise, and which decisions are reserved for owners, management or another body?
- Have I examined the financial position, relevant conflicts, material litigation, indemnity arrangements and directors' insurance?
- Does the chair welcome constructive challenge, and what evidence do I have of the board's working culture?
What you keep Prepared answers to selection questions and a record of your due diligence on the proposed appointment.
In practice Selection may begin through conversations in a majlis or with a chair, owners or advisers before any formal interview takes place, and these meetings allow you both to demonstrate sound judgement and to learn more about the people with whom you may serve.
Selection preparation
Record your answers to common selection questions and the issues that require further investigation before you accept an appointment.