Transparent and honest board members communications build a sense trust, which encourages accountability. This creates a board that is more attuned and engaged, and empowered to make decisions that align with the goals of the organization.
New board members must be made aware of their responsibilities and expectations prior to the start of their tenure. This includes the importance to volunteer time, making personal and professional connections as well as participating in fundraising activities. A welcome letter will outline the channels for communication meetings, dates for meetings and other important information to assist new directors to settle in quickly.
Different people process information differently, so it’s essential to tailor the communications of board members to specific preferences. Some individuals may prefer reading long reports, whereas others might be better able to comprehend visualisations of data. Make sure that reports and other information 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 significance of data or reports, if necessary.
It is crucial to alter the format of a board meeting and not rely on PowerPoint presentations. In addition to limiting the meeting duration, mixing up the formats promotes creativity and participation from board members.
Ensure that board members can easily access all the information they need during meetings. Consider investing in an electronic document-sharing platform that is user-friendly, secure features and high levels of scalability and conformity with data protection laws. Some of the top solutions include Diligent Boards, BoardEffect, Passageways OnBoard and Aporio.
