Transparent and honest board members’ communication creates a sense trust that promotes accountability. This also results in a more engaged and aligned board that can take decisions that support the organization’s goals.
New board members must be made aware of their responsibilities and expectations from the beginning of their term. This includes the necessity to give time, establish personal and professional connections, as well participating in fundraising activities. A welcome letter will outline the channels for communication as well as meeting dates and pertinent information to assist new directors to settle in quickly.
It is crucial to tailor the communications of board members to suit individual preferences. Some people might prefer reading long reports, while others may better understand data visualizations. Make sure that reports and other data can be easily digested by making sure to avoid technical jargons and using simple language. If necessary to, use analogies or real-world examples to illustrate the meaning or data in reports.
It is important to alter the format of a board meeting, and not rely on PowerPoint presentations. Mixing up formats may help to limit the length of meetings and encourage participation and creativity from board members.
Make sure that all board members have easy access to all the necessary information, even in between meetings. Make sure you invest in an electronic document sharing platform that provides user-friendly, secure features, a high level of scalability and conformity with data protection regulations. Some of the leading solutions include Diligent Boards, BoardEffect, Passageways OnBoard and Aporio.
