Questions to ask before joining a board

Figuring out what you want out of a board

• Do you want an intimate, hands-on role or a more bird's eye, hands-off role?
• Do you want to expand your existing skills or develop new skills that could help in your career?
• Do you want to add another facet to existing interests, or develop new areas of interest?
• Do you want to learn more about a particular issue?
• Do you want to fix a problem or shake things up?
• Do you want to make connections and expand your networks?
• Do you want to meet new people and expand your social life?
• Do you want to make a difference to the lives of people less fortunate?
• Do you want to give yourself more to do or keep yourself busy?

Scanning the horizon

• Have you carefully considered whether you are ready for board service, taking into account the many rewards as well as the roles and responsibilities you will have to undertake, the time you will have to commit and the difficulties you may encounter?
• Have you considered and articulated why you want to join a board and what you want out of board service?
• Have you thought about how much travelling you are willing to undertake and how much time you are willing to commit?
• Have you thought about, looked for and listed the community groups you or your network of family and friends are already involved with?
• Have you thought about, looked for and listed community groups that work in areas of interest you would like to become more involved in or learn more about?
• Have you searched Our Community's Directory of community organisations to get ideas about the groups working in your locality or area of interest?
• Have you searched the Board Matching Service to see what groups in your locality or area of interest are looking for board members, and what sort of board members they require?

Finding the right group

• Have you considered whether prospective groups are in a stage of their life cycle that's right for you at this time?
• Are prospective groups are the right size for you at this time?
• Are prospective groups' boards are the right size for you at this time?
• Whatt skills/expertise/talents/qualifications/passions/contacts prospective boards are looking for and whether you have the ingredients that match?
• Where are the groups and their projects/programs located, and how much traveling will be required to fulfill a board role?
• Will you be able to work with existing board members and within the prospective boards' existing culture?
• How much time is required to fulfill board responsibilities properly, and does this match how much you are able/willing to offer?
• Have you sought information about the board's current status and direction and are you comfortable with its present and plans for the future?