Andrew
BoardroomTalk
Dr Proctor Nyemba
Being a board director requires a certain amount of nous, intelligence and compassion.
If you are an aspiring board director, you might be wondering whether you will have what it takes to occupy this position.
However, as long as you have these attributes, or are willing to learn them, you can become an effective board director.
- Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is potentially more important than intellectual intelligence (IQ). EQ is defined simply as having the ability to monitor both your own and other people’s emotions, to discriminate between different emotions and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information as a guide for your own thinking and behaviour.
When you know yourself and how you connect with others, you are in a much better position to handle stressful situations and make better decisions.
- Commitment
Commitment is one of the key aspects in an effective board director. Often, people do not realise just how time-consuming sitting on a board can actually be. It is not just a matter of turning up once a month for a few hours; you must also take into consideration things like committee meetings; necessary training; strategy and planning days; and company events.
You may also be involved in fundraising events, networking, acting as an ambassador for the organisation and building sustainable relationships, not just with your fellow board directors, but with the stakeholders, investors, management team and donors. This workload can be manageable, even if you have a day job. However, you have to first decide whether you are committed. If you are not, it will soon show.
- Equanimity
Equanimity is a little-known but highly effective personality trait to have. It refers to the ability to remain calm, composed and collected, even under stressful or difficult circumstances.
This is a beneficial attribute to have in the boardroom because tensions can become high, and arguments occur. Being able to remain calm, no matter how fractious the boardroom gets, will land you in good stead.
Keeping your cool when everyone else is losing their temper will help you make better decisions. Listen to your fellow board directors, even in the most heated arguments. If you have EQ, this will not be a problem for you. Communicate with two ears and one mouth, and think before you speak.
- 4. The ability to prepare
Being properly prepared is an essential attribute for board directors. If you are heading into a board meeting with absolutely no idea of what is to come, it will never look good, regardless of whether it is your first board meeting or your 50th. When you are the most prepared person in the boardroom, you are also the most influential, and that is a highly desirable position to be in.
To be properly prepared, read all the papers before the meeting to make sure you fully understand everything that will be discussed. If you do not understand something, ask about it beforehand. You should also conduct prior research, not just about the topics to be discussed, but the influences that could apply to your fellow board directors, and the key challenges that are currently being faced by the stakeholders.
- 5. Being open-minded
The best boards are those that are diverse. Diversity is not effective if it is met with conflict and aggression from those who have opposing ideas. Being a successful board director includes keeping an open mind to that diversity and being vulnerable enough to admit when your mind is being changed.
While it can often be difficult to put your personal opinions aside on various topics, a successful board director will be able to take on new ideas and allow their opinions to be challenged.
- Being mindful of your impact
The boardroom, when run correctly, is where a lot of change can occur. This is a powerful influence that can either be positive or negative. A successful board director will always remember to be mindful of the impact his/her decisions can make.
Thinking both on the micro and macro levels can help you take into consideration any possible ripple effect that will happen through decisions made by your board. Think about the impact your choices will make on everyone — the other board directors, the stakeholders, investors, donors and the community — and take that into account with each decision.
- Bravery
Part of being an effective board director is being brave and having great leadership skills. If your personality is more prone to passivity, you might find this hard. However, change will never be brought on by being passive.
If you are not brave enough to speak up in the boardroom, especially on issues you care about, you will never be able to change things. If you want to make an impact, you have to make waves.
Bravery in the boardroom means having the ability to understand which important questions need to be asked, and when you should ask them. Asking the right questions and challenging the assumptions made by both yourself and your fellow board directors can ensure your board remains on the right path.
- Being dispassionately passionate
Passion is key to boardroom success, but being able to remain dispassionate about those passions is equally important. Often, your board might come up against highly emotive topics, and it is important to remain as logical as you can without being blinded by your feelings on it.
It is great to have strong feelings and beliefs, but keep in mind that remaining coldly logical about them is the only way you will be able to make better, more effective decisions.
- Saying no to good ideas
A great corporate director is comfortable saying no, even to good ideas. This can be hard for some, but it is a skill you will come to learn throughout your career. Having the ability to prioritise the best ideas while refusing others, no matter how great they may seem, will only serve to benefit your board. Focusing on the best ideas and utilising your resources accordingly will ensure you always tackle what is most important.
If you have read through this list and feel downcast because you consider you lack one or more of these attributes, do not despair.
These are all learned behaviours that you can work on and achieve over time, which will help you be a successful, happy board director.
Dr Proctor Nyemba is certified professional director®-Pro.Dir specialising in governance.
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