Roles on the Board of Directors: How to Choose a Board of Directors

Here are some pointers to assist you select the best candidates for your board of directors roles.

What you’ll discover:

Follow the Guidelines
The Mysterious Mix Next Steps Getting Started

Whether you’re a recently established startup or simply thinking about starting a business, understanding how to choose the proper people for your board of directors may have a huge influence on the success of your firm. What characteristics should you look for in a candidate? Here are some pointers to assist you select the best candidates for your board of directors roles.

Follow the Guidelines

First, review your company’s bylaws. They may suggest or mandate a certain board member composition, such as a set proportion of persons from inside and outside the organization, specified professional standards, or reasonable demographic mixing. These standards, as well as the overall number of directors necessary and how they are nominated, will serve as your starting point.

The Perplexing Mix

If the procedure necessitates the formation of a nominating committee, you might submit the following recommendations to the committee:

Seek for persons who are knowledgeable in a number of fields. You don’t want the board to be entirely comprised of financial or development professionals. A representative mix will guarantee that you get help in a variety of areas. Generally, diversity leads to more well-rounded board choices.
Don’t fill the board with “yes” men and women who will just rubber stamp the CEO’s goals. Although one of the board’s goals is to support the CEO, occasionally it means saying “no.” Finally, the board is accountable to all stakeholders, thus they should prioritize policies that lead to a sustainable, successful firm. Candidates must be tough-minded and also fair.
Interview the candidates you’ve selected. Examine all of the board’s roles and obligations with them to ensure they have a strong interest in the organization’s success and can dedicate the time necessary. The last thing you want is a director who is bored and uninterested.
Examine personality types carefully. Again, variety is important, but there is no crystal ball to assist the committee in finding that ideal blend of characters. Mixing opposites (for example, the highly optimistic with those who favor a methodical and deliberate approach) might result in either creative synergy or unwelcome turbulence.

Following Steps

You will create a final slate of candidates to be voted on by the electing body after the list has been trimmed. After the election of the board, the new directors should promptly elect the officers (unless the bylaws call for another method). The CEO may lead the meeting until the officers are chosen, at which point he or she will hand over the gavel to the chair. A temporary secretary should also be appointed until the board elects one. Both the temporary and permanent secretaries should be conscientious in taking Corporate Minutes. You may be prepared for your first meeting by completing our Corporate Minutes form and submitting it to the new board secretary. They will be relieved by your foresight, since their election may have taken them off guard.

Starting Again

You may be ready to incorporate your new firm now that you understand how to pick board members. We give a handy comparison chart illustrating the benefits of various organizations, such as corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), and non-profits. If you’ve already made a choice, you may get right into our expedited incorporation procedure.