HOW TO GAIN A BOARD APPOINTMENT WEBINAR SERIES (10)

1. HOW TO GAIN A BOARD APPOINTMENT • WEBINAR SERIES (10)

3. EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE BOARD APPOINTMENT PROCESS

4. I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION THAT WILL REVOLUNTIONISE THE WAY YOU GO ABOUT LOOKING FOR AND GAIN A BOARD APPOINTMENT. Information few know about and almost no one uses

5. HOW YOU CAN SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM YOUR COMPETITORS This is a highly competitive space – you must know and be able to articulate why you should be appointed over your competitors.

6. DAVID SCHWARZ - The CEO & Founder of Board Direction (AU) & Board Appointments (UK) An (ex) international headhunter 15yrs experience putting people on boards Author: The definitive guide to finding and gaining a board appointment’ Quoted in the media as the ‘leading board recruitment and CV expert’. A NfP Non Executive Director. I help put people on boards.

7. Today How to respond to advertised board opportunities

8. Specifically.. • Quick Recap • Where to find advertised opportunities. • What to do first - *hint* don't call straight away. • How to impress them in a single call. • What to ask and what not to ask. • An intro into the documents you need to impress.

9. Quick recap What Chairs want. How to get appointed & what you need to do to separate yourself from your competitors.

10. What a Chair wants from a successful candidate 1. governance experience 2. executive skills 3. connected 4. passion 5. cultural fit + Industry Experience, Diversity & Governance Training

11. Four way candidates are appointed? 65% through personal connections; 15% are appointed directly; 10% via recruiters; 10% via advertisements

12. Personal Connections 65% of people are appointed this way Strong Ties – you see regularly & Weak Ties ‘Acquaintances’ 50% of board appointments via weak ties.

13. The Direct Approach 15% of people are appointed this way Must begin with a target list Successful because you have few competitors

14. Executive Search firms Just 10% of people are appointed this way Avoid them when you can Impress them when you can’t

15. Whilst you are nearly three times as likely find a role through a “personal contact” than through an advertisement, headhunter or other “formal means’’ you will still, at some point, need to submit an application.

16. Advertised Opportunities how to stand out from other applicants; the documents you need and how to impress enough to get an interview.

17. Where to find Government Boards?

18. Federal GovernmentBoards • All Boards: www.directory.gov.au/boards-and-other-entities • Women: www.boardlinks.gov.au/ • Treasury: www.treasury.gov.au/the-department/recruitment-and-careers/board-appointments/ • Key People: www.directory.act.gov.au/ccExternal_5.1/index.html

19. State & Local Government Boards & Committees • NSW: www.lgnsw.org.au/about-us/lgnsw-positions-vacant • VIC: www.getonboard.vic.gov.au/ • SA / NT : www.officeforwomen.sa.gov.au/premiers-womens-directory & www.dpc.sa.gov.au/what-we-do/services-for-government/boards-and-committees-administration • Queensland: www.qld.gov.au/about/how-government-works/other-government-bodies/qron/join • WA: www.wa.gov.au/agency • Women in Sport: www.online.ausport.gov.au/was/register/apply.aspx

20. Where to find Commercial Boards?

21. LinkedIn

22. SEEK & the equivalents

23. Newspapers

24. Board Direction View Past Vacancies: www.boarddirection.com.au/

25. Where to find NfP Boards?

26. Not for Profit Opportunities • Seek Volunteer: www.volunteer.com.au/ • Community Business Bureau: www.cbb.com • Institute of Community Directors: www.communitydirectors.com.au/icda/board/vacancy_search.form • Volunteering Australia: www.volunteeringaustralia.org/ • Probono: www.probonoaustralia.com.au/search-opportunity/?type=volunteer + AICD, Board Direction & LinkedIn …

27. Advertised Opportunities What to do first, how to stand out & what to ask and how to prep for the application itself

28. What to do first?

29. The realities of the situation You have got yourself into a highly competitive environment. There will be more candidates than you expect – in some cases dramatically so!

30. *hint* Don't call straight away. Remember, if they are speaking with you they are speaking with many others just like you. This is an interview, as such you must stand out. You won’t have a second chance

31. How to impress: Research Hard Desk Based • Annual reports, Website, News, Board Members • Understand the Criteria Required, • Know the Stakeholders, Competitors, Clients Personal • Who do you know? – existing strong & weak ties? • Who can you know? – leveraging the opportunity • Mystery Shopping, Site Visits, Experience Services, Engage

32. But, most importantly… Know who you will be speaking to. The Chair, the CEO, Nominations Chair, HR or a consultant? All count equally! Prep for the conversation with them (the individual) – not necessarily the organisation.

33. Three pieces of information • What they are ‘really’ looking for. • What they need by way of an Application. • When they need the application submitted by. Remember… it is far easier for them to say yes. So, give them permission to say ‘no’ and be prepared to hear it.

34. However, the purpose of the call is to primarily make yourself memorable and to separate yourself from your competitors

35. Then make the call but… • It is an interview – so treat it as such. • Leverage your research and your connections • Remember what will get you appointed • You have done the role – board experience. • You have the skills they want – against the matrix. • You are connected and can add value. • You are passionate – demonstrably so. • A cultural fit – you won’t screw this up.

36. What NOT to say. Hello XXXX, I saw your advertisement for for a Non Executive Director. Can you tell me more about the opportunity please?

37. What TO to say. Hello XXXX, I saw your advertisement for for a Non Executive Director. Do you have time for a brief conversation?…I read the advert/application pack provided and was recently speaking with (a stakeholder, competitor, client) and understand that you are looking for XXXX. I am a NED with over 10 years experience and have been working in the industry for 30 years. If I tell you a little more about me could you tell me whether you would welcome an application?

38. What is the point? No one else takes this approach… seriously. Easy to stand out and impress You will be better informed. Demonstrate yourself to be well connected & intelligent Reduce the risk of your potential appointment

39. In essence, even if you do a small amount of what I recommend this approach will make you ’brag-able’.

40. What next Preparing for your submission

41. Four elements of a successful application • Write a Board CV that separates your from your competitors. • Write a Cover Letter – specific and detailed. • Write a supporting statement – addressing each of the key criteria. • Network/Research heavily.

42. The Key To Your Success Clarity, Focus& Perseverance

43. A pretty simple equation: The harder you work the luckier you get Perseverance is key

44. How are you spending your time?

45. Statistically, being proactive and developing connections or directly approaching target organisations is most likely to gain you an appointment. However, working with Executive Search Firms & Applying for roles are necessary elements of any board search.

46. Questions & Comments David Schwarz E: contact@boarddirection.com.au W: www.boarddirection.com.au

48. Contact Details • QUESTIONS & COMMENTS David Schwarz E: contact@boarddirection.com.au W: www.boarddirection.com.au

49. Don’t forget to register for next weeks’ webinar Preparing for your submission: CV’s, Cover Letters; and supporting statements