The issue of women in boardroom meetings is an issue that company bosses need to address. But no matter the case, for a woman who wants a seat at the table, there are several tips that Chrissy Weems would like to share with women to boost their chances of getting a seat at the lion’s table.

Claim the position at the table

Boards look to enhance their profile by getting names that are well-known or names that are prestigious. If you find yourself below the radar, look for ways that you can rise by seeking opportunities to rise to the occasion. To do that, get into industry groups and speak at conferences and events and don’t just become a technical expert.

Grab the attention of the chairman

Being known is one ticket of getting a seat on the board. Chairmen in most cases are usually men, and the problem comes in because you need to influence and have them on your speed dial in case you are eyeing a non-executive position.

But how do you meet these chairmen? In some states, there are events that happen once or twice a year to introduce non-executive female business leaders to different chairmen. Invitations to these events are usually by recommendation or by contacting the forum itself. Look for such opportunities to talk to the chairmen.

Advance your skills

When you talk to career advisers and headhunters, you will hear them talking about transferable skills. Board members need people they can depend on to manage their risk, people who are good at governance, strategic individuals and people who understand finance as well as those who have skills in specific sectors. Additionally, a board member needs to show that they can account for their profits in a business unit, and this requires an individual who has been a divisional director.

In most cases, a board member has to have great skills in business and approximately 20 years of experience. But as much as you need to have all these skills, you don’t have to tick each box. The sad truth about these positions is that men apply for them when they have 60% of the requirements, but women apply for these jobs when they meet 100% of the job requirements.

Get experience in governance

For a non-executive position on the board, you need to have experience in governance roles. The public sector and charities need folks who are talented in their boards, so, if there is a cause you particularly care about or you want to sign up for, you can have a mutual relationship that benefits both camps. As much as that is true, try to be selective about the company you will spend time with. Although you may learn from people when you work with the company, ensure that you don’t spend all your time with them.

Network with a plan

Chrissy Weems insists that it is important for you to understand how networking work and the people who sit on the boards. Always share the long-term objectives and don’t assume that people know that you desire to have a seat at the table. If you network with people, they will have a direct experience of working with you and they will feel more comfortable to give you a recommendation. Ensure that you develop a great working relationship with people at the executive level, and the wide networking can be said to be an additive and not a substitute for the relationships you create.

It is very important for headhunters to know you, but the most ideal way to hold the attention of the headhunters is to approach them because they usually get swamped with emails from candidates. If you already have connections with a chairman or someone of influence, ask them to request a meeting for you with the headhunter.