The 10 reasons for being a NED

First-time NEDs | Nextgen NEDs

The 10 reasons for being a NED

April 25, 2019
Elise Perraud

In this post, NEDonBoard discusses the benefits of being a NED. We do hope that this blog will encourage more professionals and business leaders to consider a transition to a non-executive career.

Here are the NEDonBoard 10 primary benefits:

Fast track your executive career. If you are an executive, being a NED may boost your career. While the time you have to commit to fulfill your duties as a NED has to be balanced with your other professional obligations and priorities, being a NED allows you to develop your strategic thinking and business acumen. You also approach issues from the perspective of a board member.

Prepare your next move, either as a portfolio NED or as a senior executive looking to position yourself to enter the boardroom in the company for which you are an executive. A NED role may also be a complement to your existing portfolio career, which is very common for consultants and board advisers

Be rewarded emotionally (and perhaps financially) for playing an active role in the success of an organisation. A NED makes substantive and measurable contribution to the decisions of the board and as such, to the growth and delivery of the mission and strategy of an organisation.

Contribute your talents and skills to a board. As a NED, you bring your experiences, expertise and skills to a board. You may also facilitate business through your connections.

Live varied and new experiences. A NED role may be a welcome change from having to focus on operational and managerial aspects of an executive job. Each NED role is specific the organisation on which you serve, the stage of growth at which it is when you join, the other board members and the external and internal environments.

Learn new skills. A NED is not an executive, a board adviser or a consultant. Becoming a NED calls for the development of new skills and the use of existing skills in new ways.

Broaden your network. A NED will interact with other NEDs in the boardroom and may also choose to join a NED membership organisation. NEDonBoard is the professional body for NEDs and board members. Being a NED will expand your network and provide you with new professional opportunities.

Attract status. The NED role is a prestigious position. Being a NED will position you for other NED roles with larger organisations or bigger challenges.

Enjoy independence and flexibility. The NED is not an employee: he/she is appointed to a board. There is tremendous flexibility in being a NED and having a portfolio career.

Fulfill your need to give back to society. Being a NED allows you to “give back” because you contribute your skills and expertise for the benefits of an organisation and its stakeholders.

Are you looking to transition to the boardroom? Please visit the NED Accelerator Programme course page for dedicated training to secure your first non-executive role.

Are you looking to prepare for and secure NED roles? Join NEDonBoard as a member to access the roles advertised on the jobs board, access networking opportunities and strengthen your profile through our knowledge events.

Written by Elise Perraud, NEDonBoard COO

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About NEDonBoard

NEDonBoard, Institute of Board Members is the professional body for non-executive directors and board members. We provide the knowledge, skills and opportunities for future and current board decision-makers to achieve non-executive director status, responsibility for the strategic direction of businesses and ensuring the best business governance practices at the highest level.

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NEDonBoard members gain access to the highest calibre, certified non-executive director training and professional development, collaborative events and peer-to-peer networking. Search the latest paid non-executive director job vacancies. Contribute to shaping corporate and business governance practices and expand your non-executive portfolio with the Institute of Board Members.

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Made by board members for board members, our mission is to help our members be the best non executive director they can be, every step of the way. From understanding what is a non executive director, to achieving internationally recognised non-executive director training and development. Our influential community is driving world-class non-executive corporate governance, diversity and inclusion in the boardroom.