Right Seat Right Table: An Outsider's Guide to Securing the Ideal Board Role

By Paul Smith

WINNER - AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS BOOK AWARDS 2019 (BEST LEADERSHIP BOOK)

"Finally, a book that answers not only the 'how-to' of getting a board seat but asks the reader to truly understand why they would bother taking on the responsibility that follows and what kind of legacy they want to leave. The world is craving le

• Language: English
• Publisher: Future Directors Institute
• Release date: May 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9780473464554

Paul Smith

PAUL SMITH is a dedicated father of two and an expert trainer in leadership and storytelling techniques. As the author of the popular Lead with a Story, he has seen his work featured in The Wall Street Journal, Time, Forbes, The Washington Post, Success, and Investor's Business Daily, among others.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To you, thank you for taking the time to read a book, any book! And thank you even more for choosing to invest your time and energy in my book. I truly hope you gain valuable insights that justify your investment.

To my family, especially Millie and Ollie: Thank you for being patient. For years, you’ve listened to my pain, my joy, my whining, and my guilt for not writing this book sooner! Without your love and support, this book would never have been written.

To my team and co-founder Warwick: It’s been a long road and we’ve had our ups and downs, but this book is as much a celebration of what we’ve achieved, as it is a look to the future.

To my editorial and creative team, Akiko, Sandra, Kathryn, Najdan and Andrija: Without your encouragement, experience, flair, and insight, this would have never come to pass. You have been a revelation. A huge thank you also to book-writing guru and international author, Andrew Griffiths, for your sage wisdom when I’d hit a wall.

Finally, to our community: You continue to amaze and inspire me. Without you, there would be no book, no business, no change. Thank you.

INTRODUCTION

Your Ideal Board Role

Stepping into a boardroom can be an intimidating experience, even if you’re a seasoned executive from a large publicly listed company. For the outsider, it can be difficult to know what’s expected of you and how to go about getting into the boardroom—not just any boardroom, but the one that best matches your value and your values and represents your passions, your interests, and the stakeholders you wish to serve. This is what I mean by ideal. It’s whatever suits you—and the board. It’s a balance, a match, and a meeting of needs.

An ideal board role will be different for each person. It could be on what I’d call a traditional governance board, with all the legal responsibilities that come with that. Or it could be on an advisory board or subcommittee that comes with other non-legal responsibilities. It could involve a full-time commitment as a professional director with a portfolio or, more likely, a part-time responsibility along with your day job. It might be a paid role with a company in a sector that interests you or a voluntary position on a charitable board of trustees for a cause that is close to your heart.