Alex Usher

Are you thinking about applying for a Non-Executive Director role? I get asked a lot of questions about my role as a NED and the application process. So here are 3 things I’ve learned that might help you on your journey to be a NED, Associate NED, Trustee or Govenor: 1️⃣ Translate your experience into board-level language. Even if you’ve never sat on a board, frame your skills in terms of governance, risk, strategy, and assurance. Show how your background equips you to ask the right questions, see the bigger picture, and bring a fresh perspective. 2️⃣ Tailor every application to the role, don’t just send in your CV. Write a concise, focused statement explaining why this organisation, why now, and why you. Align your skills to their priorities and demonstrate what unique value you’ll bring to the board. 3️⃣ Show you understand the role and board context: oversight, assurance, constructive challenge and stewardship. You don’t need to be an operational expert. The NED role is about upholding the values and supporting the executive team without stepping into their space. And finally…. persevere. You might not get the first role you apply for, or even the third. It took me 4 attempts! That’s normal. Seek feedback from recruitment panels, reach out to Chairs, and keep refining your approach. Stay positive and use a continuous learning approach to build your confidence for the next application. 💡 And here’s a message I really want younger professionals to hear - The time commitment is significant and most roles don’t pay well (or at all), but the career development value is huge! You will gain exposure to strategic decision-making, deepen your understanding of governance and risk, and learn how complex organisations are steered at the highest level. Those insights and networks will shape your leadership journey in ways no other post-graduate course will. I’ve personally decided to only do one 3-year term which I think gives enough time to bring my perspective into the boardroom and then step aside so others can have the same opportunity. For me, it's all about giving back, being impactful and learning from peers across sectors; with a goal to become a better leader in every other part of my career. Please feel free to add comments or questions in the chat 🙏🏽 #NHSLeadership #NonExecutiveDirector #TrusteeRoles #InclusiveLeadership #BoardroomDiversity #WomenInLeadership #CareerDevelopment #LeadershipTips

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What does it mean to be employee-owned? I recently had the pleasure of visiting DNCO a brilliant employee-owned creative agency in London Bridge. Speaking with founder Joy Nazzari and the team, it was clear how much pride and purpose comes from being employee-owned. Their model shows how giving employees a genuine stake in the business can build a stronger culture, drive better performance, and retain talent long-term. Employee ownership is good for staff and good for business. If you're a founder thinking about next steps or ways to grow, I’d encourage you to consider employee ownership. 👉 Learn more via the @Mayor of London & @Co-operatives UK London Ownership Hub: https://lnkd.in/eXkVXcsG 👉 For more resources and inspiration, visit the Employee Ownership Association: https://lnkd.in/eNFc5cxh #EmployeeOwnership #LondonOwnershipHub

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You’ve got 47 seconds before they click off. As a comms professional, we're often tempted to put every benefit into that newsletter, every feature into that brochure, every detail in the description. Research says you shouldn't. YOUR AUDIENCE'S ATTENTION IS FLEETING In 2004 the average attention span on a digital screen was 2.5 minutes. Today, it's 47 seconds according to Gloria Mark, Chancellor’s Professor of Informatics at UC Irvine. That includes writing a document in MS Word, an email or reading an article online. AND THEY'RE ENGAGED EVEN LESS Engagement time is even shorter. In 2023, Chartbeat analysed the consumption of online content from 5,000 media brands across 70 countries and found the median engaged time was just 28 seconds. PEOPLE DON'T READ. THEY SCAN. When it comes to online content, users only read 20% - 28% of a webpage according to eye tracking studies conducted by NN/g in 2008. Umm... What does that mean for comms professionals? ✅ Presentations: Attention grabbing lead. Front-load your key insight. One idea per slide, with bold headers that tell the story at a glance. ✅ Blogs and newsletters: Lead with an attention grabbing hook/key takeaway. Structure is your friend - let subheads, bullets, and visuals do the rest. Help them navigate your content and settle on the points most relevant for them. ✅ Social Posts: Trim ruthlessly. Aim for one hook, one point, one action. Then shrink that again. ✅ Test your content: Can someone grasp the core idea from the headline, bold bits, and subhead alone? ✅ Every word counts: Clarity trumps quantity. With most readers ready to move on within a minute, every word must earn its place. Edit, edit, edit. I wonder how many of you got this far? If you did, write "I read to the end" in the comment section below 👇 #communications #content #writingtips #commstips #careers

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Third sector leaders. Your next move may be your most important! Let’s face it, the third sector is sailing some stormy seas at the moment - funding is reducing while demand in many charitable services is rising, putting both pressure on your organisation, staff, and the beneficiaries of your service. In Wales alone, earlier this year it was revealed by the WCVA | CGGC that 38% of voluntary organisations fear they may have to make significant decisions (including potential closure), within 6–12 months. Furthermore, the Law Family Commission on Civil Society recently reported: “Small charities (with income of up to £100,000) spend 38% of their total grant income on fundraising applications, while medium charities (with revenues between £100,000 and £1m) spend 35%. Large charities (with income of £1m and above) spend 16% of their grant income on the application process each year.” This is not good on all accounts with grant dependency being so high risk. So how do we navigate these difficult times? ACT NOW. I’m sorry to tell you that it’s highly unlikely that someone is coming to save you; the chances of another grant are dwindling, the chances of a government handout are nominal, and the chances of large scale sponsorship by a corporate is equivalent to winning the lottery. To wait until your last 12months worth of cash flow could be catastrophic for your organisation. EMBRACE AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET while focusing on your social mission (avoiding mission drift). The species that survives is the one that adapts to its environment. Multiple income streams are now required for survival. That could be fundraising, delivering contracts, or seeking corporate sponsorship. Simply asking for help is not enough, and the knowledge and skills usually reserved for business start-ups is now imperative… as Kevin L. Brown states, you need to be both “Fundable and FINDABLE”, and on that point… MASTER MARKETING; less funds equates to a competitive environment and therefore understanding how to effectively market yourself is essential. If this is a bit too alien for some then my final suggestion may be your answer… DEVELOP YOUR DIGITAL APPROACH. Digital is more than just phones and computers. I explain “digital” to my clients as “doing something as efficiently and effectively as possible while maintaining impact and quality”… technology is simply the vehicle for achieving this 9 times out of 10. Appropriate use of AI can now act as team members (including marketing, copywriting, and social media managers… if you train them correctly), to fill the skills gaps you need. Here are some resources that may help: Strategy and focus. I have created a strategy template here: https://lnkd.in/e_sZJxPE Marketing and AI. The “Newid” project created this marketing document here: https://lnkd.in/eijfZACg

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