4 March, 2021

What makes a successful non-executive director?

Qualities that are prized in executive life must be left at the boardroom door as a non-executive director. So what do boards look for in a new recruit?

non-executive directors waiting for an interview

Image: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

The role of non-executive director may be unique in having a job title that describes what the job isn’t, rather than what it is. Awkward and downbeat though the title may be, it does serve to emphasise what non-executives are not there to do. They are not there to run the show, take the lead in driving strategic change, or be the visible face of the organisation. They absolutely are there to ensure that the right people are in place to do all these things, and to facilitate an environment in which they can do them effectively. But for many aspiring non-executive directors, the central early lesson is that they need to take their hand

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board careers, Board composition, boardroom skills, Kit Bingham, non-executive directors, selection