How a vase of flowers helped secure my first NED role

How a vase of flowers helped secure my first NED role 

In this blog, I'd like to share how effective coaching transformed my approach to achieving my first NED role. 

Although my skillset got me noticed, it was having the right mindset that made the difference to securing a successful appointment.

Whilst everyone’s journey to becoming a NED is unique, I hope that by sharing some key learnings from mine, it will accelerate yours.

So here is my story…

The never-ending long-list!

As a full-time director for a large corporate, I had my annual appraisal and identified that becoming a working NED would support my career development. I revised my CV and started applying for NED roles. Over a 12-month period, I kept making the long-list but not the shortlist. What was I missing?

The coaching intervention

During a leadership development programme as a full-time executive, I engaged in a group coaching session with the goal of securing my first NED role.

I explored the need to gain clarity around my key motivations for becoming a NED and how it would align with my values, passions, and purpose. I recognised I needed to be realistic about the time commitment and secure the full support of my boss and partner to be both a successful executive and NED, whilst maintaining work life balance. In addition, there was a personal element driving my choice of sector, organisation, and geography, related to the care and compassion my sister received during her terminal illness. I genuinely wanted to use my skills and experience to make a positive difference in a local NHS trust. 

Picture this…

My coach placed a vase of flowers at one end of the room and me at the other, with 3 of my colleagues in between, one taking on the role of my boss, the second my partner and third my sister. My challenge was to convince them to support me and move aside to enable me to reach the vase of flowers (my first NED role). 

On my first attempt, I felt I gave a good explanation of the logical reasons to gain their support. None of them moved! Second time, I gave both the logical and emotional reasons and they jumped out of the way! I had tears in my eyes when I held up that vase. 

So, what was it about my winning pitches that unlocked my prize? I spoke with energy and confidence from my head, heart and gut and connected with my authentic self. 

• For my boss - it was about negotiating a win win deal. I committed to bring back fresh insights to enhance the success of our leadership team and deliver transformational change. Promising to always deliver on my day job and more.

• For my partner - I committed to ring fencing time for date nights.

• For my sister – I promised to translate my passion for customers into being patient focused. Shaping strategy and challenging the board to innovate and improve the quality of services for patients.

My reflection was that I had been going through the motions to secure a NED role, and this was simply not good enough in the highly competitive NED marketplace. I felt energised and confident to take a more proactive approach.



Embracing a different approach and making the shortlist …

In my next application, I showcased both my skillset and positive mindset and explained more about my personal motivations. See more on writing compelling CV’s and personal statements in future blogs.

I reached out to existing NEDs in my network to gain a better understanding of the role and time commitment. I was proactive in asking to meet and have informal conversations with key people at the trust I was applying to join and walked round the hospital one evening. 

I invested time in doing my research about the organisation. 

Again, more top tips on networking, engaging key stakeholders and doing your research in future blogs. 

Result…. I was shortlisted and passed the board as being appointable but came second! What had I missed?

I asked for feedback and reflected on it. They wanted to see more evidence that I understood the health needs of the local population and communities the trust served, aligned with wider system partners. My learning here was that the depth and breadth of your research really is important. 

I was on it and shortlisted within 6 weeks for a neighbouring NHS Trust.

This time I nailed it and was offered the role.

My overall reflection…

Engaging in tailored coaching can make a significant difference in connecting with your authentic self and aligning both your skillset and winning mindset to deliver a successful outcome. 

If this blog has helped inspire you to fast-track your career to becoming a non-executive director, look at our NEDfit tailored coaching programme here, or contact us at: info@nedfit.co.uk to find out more.