Being confident means having a realistic sense of your abilities and feeling secure about the value of your contributions based on your knowledge and experiences. When assuming a new board role, it’s natural to have some anxiety about serving as a board director. To make meaningful contributions in the boardroom, it is imperative to project confidence.

5 Steps to Build Confidence:

1. Focus on the competencies you have learned serving in nursing roles that will translate well into effective board service.
2. Prepare in advance of board meetings, highlighting topics on the agenda where you can contribute to the discussions through your experience, knowledge, and unique insights.
3. Make your comments succinct and to the point; prepare specific remarks in advance of the meeting.
4. LISTEN. While you may have initial thoughts to share, remain open to what you hear from other board members that may further shape or change your point of view.
5. Meet your board colleagues outside of the boardroom to get to know them and understand their reasons for serving.

Remember, you were asked to serve for a reason. Boards function as a collective governing body. No one board member needs to possess all the skills and competencies required to fulfill its duties. As a board member, it’s important for you to project confidence so that your voice will be heard, considered, and acted upon. 

Thought leadership includes mentoring organizational leaders, the value they each bring to boards in the community and across the nation. Developing nurse leaders to participate with confidence in the boardroom leads to diverse and inclusive solutions. Projecting this confidence in the boardroom builds the trust necessary to develop equitable solutions for future challenges.”
Tammy Simon RN, MSN, VP, Institute for Quality, Innovation & Patient Safety, Marshfield Clinic Health System