http://www.infosecnews.org/to-be-a-board-member/
Posted in its entirety as Pastebin pages sometimes disappear…
http://pastebin.com/VJtribPU
BY: A GUEST ON AUG 21ST, 2013
The information security industry is rife with initiatives and organizations,
one more formal than the other, that would benefit from able and competent
boards. From the Security B-Sides organization, OWASP, ISSA and the Cloud
Security Alliance to ISC2, over the years it has become clear that building and
maintaining a competent and agile board proves to be a relative challenge.
While each organization is different, the issues they face are similar. This
post does not address the specific concerns of a single organization but rather
tries to frame the need for dedicated and competent board members against the
backdrop of an industry and community that continues to struggle with their own
identity. It should provide guidance to both people with board ambitions and
those looking to support them. Anybody identifying themselves with an
organization and its membership should ask themselves at least the following
questions.
Why me?
——-
The first answer to this question could be ‘Why not?’ but the answer lies in
the fact that it is a flawed question to begin with. The real answer should be
‘Who cares? This is not about YOU.’
A large following and a well-known name will obviously make it significantly
easier to obtain a board seat but it is just important to note that very few
organizations provide board seats as a ‘badge of honor’. The position comes
with both a decent dose of responsibility and the requirement to put in hours.
If your first reason to aim for this position is that it will look good on your
resume then you’re not only in for a surprise, you’re also about to hugely
disappoint yourself and the people that rely on your engagement to make things
happen.
‘Servant Leadership’ is a term that is overused these days. The essentials of
the concept are very relevant for the aspiring board member though. It only
starts when a community or membership provides you the opportunity to serve.
Within that mandate is your obligation to serve your constituency with only the
common interest on your agenda. Where you may expect the additional ‘badge’ to
propel your career to soaring heights, you will rather find yourself spending
numerous cycles on complex problems with no inkling of personal reward in
return. Instead your reward lies in the value and benefits you create for your
constituency.
[...]
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