5 reasons to hire a non-executive director (NED)

Recruiting a non-executive director (NED) can help a small business gain experience, knowledge, contacts and ideas, as well as provide constructive criticism – all of which cannot fail to be of value to a company regardless of its size.

Many people will have heard of NEDs but few fully understand what they are, much less what they can potentially do for a small or growing business.

What a non-executive director can bring to your business:

They have experience

A NED can fill a gap in a small business owner’s experience, or can add industry knowledge of a specific sector that the business is targeting.

Most NEDs have usually helped a number of businesses find their feet, grow or survive tough times. And, if a NED is faced with a situation they’ve never dealt with before, they’ll probably know someone who has.

A fresh perspective

A NED doesn’t work with a business full time and won’t be concerned with day-to-day issues but will instead look at the bigger picture.

What is the direction of the business? Are targets being met? What environmental changes might affect the business? Which competitors should the business watch out for and what are the plans to keep ahead of the competition? They will have the ability to advise with confidence and make unbiased decisions in the interests of the business.

Connections that count

A successful business is a connected one, and a great way of making connections is through networking. However, for a small business it can be time consuming and can often prove difficult to build a trusted network of contacts.

A NED, in many cases, can offer an address book of relevant contacts that aligns with their own experience. This could be suppliers, distributors or potential customers to help boost business or a marketing guru or potential partner to add a new dimension to your company.

Keeps the management team in check

Many company boards become the victims of bad habits; missed agenda items, conversations being side tracked, and opinions being discounted.

The introduction of a NED will help to keep things on track, and help to alleviate any tensions.

An objective view

NEDs can round off a board by not only providing experience and knowledge that other directors may not have, but also by being able to take a more objective view of issues affecting the business and offering a wider sense of the possibilities for growth.

If, for example, your company grows and you consider flotation as a way to expand, they can act as a mediator voicing the pros and cons of such a move. Or, if there’s a financial crisis within the company or your market, they can alleviate stress and bring a voice of reason to the table.