Inside the Club: The Best Board Members

Have you reached that point in your company’s lifespan where you have board members? I believe from stories out of Apple we get a scary perception of having investors and board members. However, many of the most successful clubs in the world have investors that help them reach their goals.

When examining your board members, it’s important to have the right people in the proper seats. Inc.com recently released an article titled “7 Board Members Every Organization Needs.”

Its list included the following:

1)   The Passionate One

This person is crucial to every business. You need someone that is passionate about the goals and aspirations of the company. You could easily see this person in Steve Jobs. He had an extreme belief in Apple and was passionate about its place in our world.

2)   The Doomsday-er

Not every day will be filled with sunshine and flowers. There are bad days for companies, and this person will have you prepared. They look at the situations that could be problematic for your company, and help you prepare for the worst.

3)   The Listener

Everyone has been in that meeting with a leader that just carries on and on. It’s hard to know if they ever listen to anyone else. The listener is exactly the opposite, they listen to perspectives and are able to analyze from a collective understanding.

4)   The Cheerleader

Cheerleaders are vital to the growth of your company. You need that person that is excited about the growth of the company and is in each individual’s corner. They are charismatic and they can save the day with their optimism.

5)   The Outsider

You ever had someone talk to you about your business and you thought they had a great outside perspective? That’s this person. They aren’t too attached to your company, and they can think of strategies and ideas that someone too close to the project may not be able to.

6)   The Networker

When I finally escaped college I quickly learned the importance of networking. In your corporation it’s vital you have a person that still gets that idea. This person is truly connected and can get your company involved in some very crucial events, and aligned with interesting individuals.

7)   The Organizer

Out of all the people that I could possibly identify with, this is not one of them. However, this person may be one of the more vital aspects of your company. You need someone to keep meetings on task and focused, but you’ll also want someone that is good at considering a successful workflow for the group and the company as a whole.

As writer Drew Hendricks from Inc.com explained, “Every board is different and it will naturally evolve over time.” It’s important to have the proper people in place so that you can work and grow together.

Tyler Montgomery is the Editor-in-Chief of Club Solutions Magazine. For thoughts on his blog, the print issue or the industry, reach out to him at tyler@clubsolutionsmagazine.com.