Sourcing Board Members with Executive Recruiting

Imagine what would it be like if you did not have to fill that vacant board member position? Well, the reality is a slot has been open for months and time is running out. The pressure is on and you are the go-to person. The process of establishing a qualified pool of board member candidates can be an intimidating task. Does your company have a unique culture that requires a special skill set? Has your organization been in the news lately? Our national newspapers are packed with boards and governing bodies receiving negative media coverage. Regardless of the reason why, the next step is to take action.

Rather than to depend on local or personal resources, an executive recruitment firm specializing in board member search may be the partner that you need. From non-profit board members to executive committee appointments, executive recruitment firms are poised to build your pool of qualified candidates.

Additionally, executive search companies that focus on board member recruitment have an abundance of resources to shape your board. Many executive recruitment firms have custom databases and related online technologies to advance the selection of board members.

As with any professional engagement, take time to set the expectations for the recruiting firm. The board member search firm becomes your partner in the quest for leadership. So, have your mission statement on-hand and prepare a simple outline by answering these questions.

• What is the basic board member criterion?
• Is the board member expected to solve one specific problem?
• Are we seeking specific leadership skills? What core competencies are you seeking?
• Must the board member participate in organizational giving campaigns?
• Will you offer the new board member training?
• These are just a few thought provoking ideas to get the outline started.

Here’s the bottom line, board member selection for permanent boards or ad-hoc executive committees will take a significant amount of energy and resources. Even though your company is well connected, having a pool of fresh candidates can allow you to create a more diverse group of members. The search for skilled talent, committed to organizational goals and objectives is crucial.

Whether the vacancy is a result of retirement, growth or other circumstances, an executive recruitment company can lend its resources to ease selection process. For a win-win situation interview several executive recruiting companies. As this article ends, think about the value of your mission statement and outline as it relates to the vacancy on your board. By effectively communicating your initial ideas, you can reduce the pressure of single-handedly recruiting the next top board member.

This article is brought to you by BlueBridge Group, an Atlanta based executive recruiting firm that provides boutique level executive search services nationwide. Visit us at http://www.bluebridgegroup.com for more information.