I have served on a variety of boards of directors over the years, having joined my first one almost 20 years ago. There are a number of excellent reasons for choosing/agreeing to join a board. The pure altruism of giving back to your community, working closely with an organization that strikes close to home or simply because the organization is involved in an area that is of personal interest to you.
However, you should not overlook the marketing value of serving on a board. If your decision to be on a board is business motivated (which is fine), then you need to approach it like a business decision.
Ask questions. What will be expected of you, financially and time-wise? Will they be tapping into your area of expertise? Take a look at the current board roster. Are these people who you would want to meet? While board meetings are not an appropriate place for a “pitch,” you will certainly be showing off your skills and, assuming you do a good job with the tasks assigned or volunteered for, people can’t help but notice.
The decision to join a board should not be taken lightly. You have to be willing to commit at least one, and preferably more, of the three Ts (time, talent or treasure) and because of the commitment, it should be an organization to which you feel some attachment. That being said, if at all possible, it should also be an opportunity for you to market yourself and your company. The great thing is that, assuming you’ve picked the right board(s), you’ll be taking advantage of this opportunity by doing exactly what the board has brought you on to do.
– Scott Harris