Contributing from day one: when to talk, what to say, and how to deal with the big shots around the board table.

• Author: Calderon, Nancy
• Position: ENDNOTE

Getting ready to serve on a board begins with one's own career performance and planning; but it doesn't stop there. Success as a board member starts from the day you get an invitation to join. Here are tips for doing a good job as a director, from day one:

* Know the company and industry: Come to your first board meeting with a solid understanding of the company, its history, culture, and strategy. Background research will help you identify how you'll add value as a board member, while winning the respect of fellow board members.

"Before interviewing for a board and long before a first board meeting, I try to learn all about current issues for the industry, the competition, the company's products, its customers--everything," says Jan Babiak, a director of Walgreens, Bank of Montreal, and Experian. "It's not because when I walk into the boardroom anyone will expect me to know these things. Indeed, board colleagues have said to me, 'We don't expect a lot from any board member in the first year, but we were really surprised because you made a contribution right from the beginning.' I can tell you, that's not because I'm smarter than anyone else, probably not even close. It's because I do a lot of research. That gives me confidence so that I don't feel so much like a fish out of water on the first day."

* Learn how the board works: Do all you can in advance to find out about how the board operates, about its governance system, the lead director, any possible committee openings, and each committee's focus. What skills do the other directors bring to the table and what skills does the board need? Ask the nominating committee chair to recommend an educational program.

* Do your homework: Your board-specific research should focus on two questions: What gaps is the board trying to fill? What contribution can you make given your specific background and skills? KPMG's Kathy Hopinkah Hannan offers this advice: "If you know the industry, understand the landscape, and ask probing questions, you'll get respect. You have to be a systematic thinker. How does everything connect? Connecting the dots is really important."

* Nothing ventured, nothing gained: WomenCorporateDirectors co-founder Alison Winter, a director of Nordstrom Inc., suggests that women wanting to serve on a board get out of their comfort zones: "When you step up and do something that's hard or new, you'll learn something. Being well prepared includes taking some personal risks. My first...