“If you get appointed to something, and it’s not really a good fit, you should speak up because there are so many different spaces where you can serve.”
-Kristy Quattrone, Former Director of Boards and Commissions for Governor Henry McMaster
You’ve been appointed. You’re serving. Maybe your term is coming to an end. Maybe you don’t feel comfortable on the board. Maybe you’re wondering if you’re missing out on other roles. And you’re asking yourself if you should keep serving. We can’t tell you what to do, but we can offer some food for thought.
It may be helpful to go back to the start. Pull up the old exercises you did through this course to help you decide what motivated you and where to apply. Talk to those who encouraged you to apply and advocated for your appointment. Examine why you chose to serve in the first place and determine if those motivations still hold true. Your initial inspiration can help re-center you when you feel unfocused or help you manage your frustrations.
Many board and commission members serve for four years or even longer. A lot can change in four years. You may have started a more demanding job, have new family commitments, or have changes to your schedule. You may no longer have space in your life for board service. It can feel like you’re letting people down by resigning, but isn’t it better to have someone else in your role who can give 100%? You can also talk to those who appointed you about the shift in your priorities, work with them to determine when it would be the least disruptive for you to step back, and even recommend a replacement.
Was serving on this board a stepping stone to another goal, like serving on a high-profile board or running for office? There’s nothing wrong with that, and at a certain point, you will need to leave this position to pursue those ambitions. However, going before your term has ended may reflect poorly on your record when seeking a new post. Keep that in mind, and do your best to depart when your term expires.
Even if you didn’t seek this position with another goal in mind, you may be curious about what other opportunities are available to you. That’s a good thing! We need more women leaders at all levels of government. You can review our appointed office database to see what other boards have vacancies if you want to continue in appointed office. If you want to run for elected office, schedule an Opportunity Seats consultation with SC WIL. We’ve analyzed thousands of pieces of data to help you determine where and when to run.
Sometimes, we can land in a spot that just isn’t the right fit for us. If, for whatever reason, you find yourself in a position that doesn’t suit your skills or you feel unqualified for, you should speak up. Let the staff member who helped with the application process or those who appointed you know. Say something sooner rather than later so you can find a better position, and they can find a new board member.
TIP: If you’re interested in another appointed position, remember that you may only serve on one government board or commission at a time. If you apply for another board and are selected, you must resign from your current position.
No matter what you decide, remember that others will come after you. Who will fill these positions? It doesn’t have to be the usual suspects. We need more women in leadership positions in the state. If you leave your post, encourage other women to apply, guide them through the process, and advocate for them. If you continue in the post, become a mentor and groom the next generation of leaders.
Exercise
What questions should you be asking of yourself? Our worksheet will get you thinking about whether you should continue serving in your position.
Additional Resources
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