Transparent and honest communication between board members create confidence that fosters accountability. This results in an effective board that is aligned and engaged and empowered to take decisions that are in line with the goals of the organization.
From the start of their tenure, new board members should be aware of their responsibilities and expected outcomes. This includes the importance to donate time, make connections with colleagues and friends and participate in fundraising activities. A welcome letter outlining the channels for communication, meeting schedules and other pertinent details to help new board members settle in quickly.
Different people interpret information in different ways, and so it’s important to tailor the communications of board members to individual preferences. For instance, some people prefer reading long reports, while others may be better able to comprehend data visualizations. Avoid technical language when writing reports or other data to make it easier to comprehend. Use analogies and real-world examples to illustrate the implications of data or reports, if needed.
It’s also important to vary the structure of board meetings, instead of relying on PowerPoint presentations. Along with limiting meeting length, mixing up formats promotes creativity and participation from board members.
Make sure that all board members have easy access to board members communications all information they require even during meetings. Consider a document sharing platform that is user-friendly and secure with features, high scalability, and compliance to data protection regulations. Some of the top solutions include Diligent Boards, BoardEffect, Passageways OnBoard and Aporio.