are board directors paid 
insider directors are not typically compensated for board duties since they re most often company employees outside directors are paid the bottom linea board of directors is a group of individuals elected by a public company s shareholders to provide the expert and experienced guidance and oversight to ensure a company s profitability and sustainability the board has a fiduciary duty to make decisions and take actions in the interest of shareholders and stakeholders it operates independently of management and focuses on a company s major issues rather than its day to day operations 