What Does Being a Good Advisory Board Member Really Entail?

Just what a good Advisory Board member should do relies heavily on what he or she expects from this board. But I don’t want to get caught up here in the debate on whether they should cater to the needs of the shareholders – or what those needs are.

Rather, my interest lies in highlighting some of the core duties of a good advisor, which have more to do with his or her way of working than with the company’s objectives.

As a professional in the broad sense of the word, an advisor’s duty is to work hard and well. The idea of “working well” varies across professions. It differs for doctors, chefs and of course for an advisor. And more so for an advisor of a large financial entity, or one who collaborates with a family business with a large local impact.

I have listed a few of their main duties below (I’m sure a few more spring to mind while reading):

• Ask tough questions…
• …because you aren’t there just to applaud the CEO.
• Work well with others.
• Know the sector inside out. And if you didn’t know it before – get up to speed.
• Contribute worthy ideas. And if you haven’t had any for a while – it’s time to go.
• Be alert and curios. Challenge the answers given.
• Contribute to the committee’s work.
• Attend meetings. Obviously!
• Prepare meetings. Also obvious, but not as often.
• Take part in meetings.
• Contribute with the long-term in mind. You have to be like Jiminy Cricket and make others move.
• Think of the company as a whole.