Transparent and honest communication between board members help create an environment of trust that promotes accountability. It also leads to an engaged and aligned board that can take decisions that support the goals of the organization.
Board members who are new to the organization must be informed of their duties and expectations prior to the start of their tenure. This includes the importance to donate time, make connections both professional and personal and also participate in fundraising activities. A welcome letter will outline communication channels, meeting dates and other relevant information to assist new directors to settle in quickly.
Different people interpret information in different ways, which is why it’s crucial to tailor the communications of board members for individual preferences. For instance, some people prefer reading long reports, while others might be more adept at understanding visualizations of data. Make sure that reports and other data can be digested easily by making sure to avoid technical jargons and using straightforward language. Make use of analogies and real-world examples in order to illustrate the implications of data and reports, if necessary.
It is also essential to mix http://boardroomtalk.org/improving-board-communications-effective-online-solutions up the structure of board meetings, instead of relying on PowerPoint presentations. Mixing up formats can also help to limit the length of meetings and increase participation and creativity among board members.
Ensure that board members are able to easily access all the information they require even during meetings. Consider a document sharing platform that is user-friendly and secure with features, high scalability and compliance with data protection regulations. Some of the top solutions include Diligent Boards, BoardEffect, Passageways OnBoard and Aporio.