# Non Executive Director Richard Gourlay - Link: https://www.richardgourlay.com/non-executive-director/ - Published: 2021-11-09T18:17:11+00:00 - Author: Richard Gourlay # Non Executive Director (NED) A Non Executive Director (NED) provides a hugely valuable role in a business.  NED’s work with executive directors and other senior advisors to support the business growth and development.  They do this by providing guidance and support to the executive leadership team and the wider company. NEDs are a valuable resource in expertise and advice, a guiding hand in business success. NED’s provide an invaluable set of resources for companies, from creating accountability to bouncing ideas off and through as well as bringing experience, connections and know-how to a company. The Value Of Independent Non Executive Directors (NED’s) An independent Non-Executive Director (NED) provides an external voice to an organisation’s board.  The official role of an NED has a regulatory responsibility to provide independent oversight and constructive challenge to the executive directors. Oversight, reviewing plans, ideas and outcomes against plans is a vital role in guidance and support for leadership teams.   NED’s are essential extension to an executive board, providing not only the regulatory requirement but also a width of skills and connections which challenge and extend the business’s ability to grow. NED’s support change and growth, through their expertise, knowledge or connections. Helping define the growth strategy to grow in the right direction, analysing market trends and comparing the company’s core competencies.   ![](https://www.richardgourlay.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Growth-is-painful- Change-is-painful-but-nothing-is-as-.jpg)   ## NED’s Supporting Business Growth and Development Directors are often too close the business they run.  NED’s provide that external, but highly interested, view of the business, providing advice and guidance to the organisations leadership team. Traditionally this is delivered at monthly board meetings. Where they review progress of the executive board at its board meetings against the business plan and assess forward planning. The role of a board meeting is to review progress and forward planning assumptions. NED’s make a real contribution to growth and development of a business.   The independent judgement they bring to strategy and execution creates an inherent robustness in the business. NED’s are also a key sounding board for ideas and in reviewing progress towards business goals.   For NED’s to add real value to a business they are usually people of experience at a senior level. Good NED’s bring diversity to a business which enables them to challenge assumptions and bring creative and innovative ideas to the board.  ####   #### **NED functions within a board most often include**:-   I**mpartiality** **Integrity  ** **Honesty ** **Challenge ** **Experience** ###   ### **Non-Executive-Directors ** ### **Bring Diversity** **to Companies** Diversity in background and thinking prevents what is called “group think” amongst a board.  Diversity of background and skills strengthens board decisions, by supporting the leadership team lead their organisations forward.  Being non-aligned and not involved in day-to-day leadership within the organisation NED’s deliver a width of views and ideas to company boardrooms. NED’s provide an alternative (external) view on key matters, such as strategic direction, robustness of business plans, people development and monitoring of performance.  The importance of strategic direction is always a key role to have NED’s in place to scrutinize, evaluate and support. The outsider’s view is a vital oversight which an NED can uniquely provide. Someone who knows enough about the company’s competency and capability but is able to stand back and look from outside at where and why they wish to take the business in a certain direction.  NED’s need to understand the landscape within which the business operates or wants to operate within. ## **Non Executive Director Role** Challenging and providing a constructive view to the CEO and senior directors is a key role which NEDs can deliver. Doing this in a positive and supportive way enables NED’s to support leadership teams move their organisation forward successfully. Delivering a robust audit of the assumptions upon which they have built their plans, supports or asks for a review of forward plans. The another key element which NED’s provide is in monitoring performance against company objectives. Looking at how a company is progressing against targets throughout the business operations is an essential element of NED’s value to a board.  ### Richard Gourlay NED Richard Gourlay works as a NED for companies looking to grow and develop. With over 20 years as a high growth consultant to a wide range of businesses and organisations he brings strategic advice on markets and growth models as well as experience in driving growth within a variety of market sectors. 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