What is Board Recruitment?

Board recruitment is the process of identifying, assessing, and selecting individuals to serve on an organization’s board of directors. This proceeding is crucial in ensuring that members can guide the organization’s strategy, oversee management, and promote good governance. Board recruitment involves finding candidates with the right mix of skills, background, and outlook to achieve organizational goals.

Board Recruitment Process

Typically, the process of board recruitment consists of several key steps:

1. Define the needs and the ideal board member: Companies undergoing this process must first assess what skills, expertise, and qualifications are needed to complement the current members. Outlining these is important in understanding the areas of expertise the board is lacking, like finance, law, industry-specific knowledge, or advocacy experience for nonprofits.
2. Source candidates: Once the requirements are defined, you can start searching for suitable candidates that fit the desired profile. Some ways you can do this are through networking, referrals, executive search firms, and even digital platforms.
3. Screen and interview: Potential candidates are then screened through background checks, interviews, and reference checks. This ensures that the members are qualified for their roles and are compatible with the organization’s culture.
4. Onboarding: After selection, the new board members then have to undergo a formal onboarding process, starting with the introduction of the organization’s policies, mission, and culture. This keeps them aligned with what’s expected of them.

A successful board recruitment process aims to build a well-rounded board, bringing in diverse skills and perspectives that can effectively guide and support the organization’s long-term success.

Who is an Ideal Board Member: Qualities to Look For When Recruiting

The ideal board member should possess the right blend of qualities that are needed for their role aligning with the organization’s goals and values. Here are the qualities to look for:

1. Relevant Skills and Expertise: Having the right amount of familiarity and expertise in the industry, proficiency in functional expertise such as finance and governance, and strategic thinking.
2. Leadership and Decision-Making Abilities: The ideal board member should be able to guide the rest of the members towards forward-thinking strategies and make sound decisions in the organization’s best interests.
3. Personal Attributes and Communication: Upholding ethical standards by promoting integrity, responsibility, and accountability. This also includes collaborating effectively with fellow board members and management.
4. Diversity and Inclusion: An ideal board member should value inclusion and contribute to diversity. A diverse board benefits from a mix of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
5. Alignment with Organizational Values: Supporting the organization’s mission and values while representing the organization positively.

Board recruitment is handpicking the board members that will keep your organization on track. Thus, an ideal board member is more than just an expert, but is a trusted advisor and advocate for the organization’s success.

Board Recruitment Matrix

A board recruitment matrix is a tool for boards to identify the skills and attributes required for the board of directors. This also helps in assessing the current skills of the existing members, pinpointing gaps, and prioritizing the recruitment of members with the right qualifications.

The main components of a board recruitment matrix include skills and expertise, industry experience, demographics, and personal attributes. To get started, check out our Board Skill Matrix Template — streamlining the skills matrix and giving practical tips on evaluating your members for a high-performing board.