Transparent and honest communications between board members build confidence that fosters accountability. This leads to a board that is involved and unified, and empowered to make decisions that support the organization’s objectives.
At the beginning of their term the new board members should be aware of their responsibilities and expected outcomes. This includes the importance to give time, establish personal and professional connections as well as participating in fundraising activities. A welcome letter will outline communication channels along with meeting dates and important information to assist new directors to settle in quickly.
Different people respond to information in different ways, which is why it’s essential to customize communications for board members according to their personal preferences. For example, some may prefer reading lengthy reports, while others may better comprehend data visualizations. Make sure that reports and other information are easy to digest by making sure to avoid technical jargons and using straightforward language. Use analogies and real-world examples in order to illustrate the meaning of data or reports, if required.
It’s also crucial to mix up the structure of board meetings, instead of relying on PowerPoint presentations. Mixing up formats may aid in limiting the length of meetings and increase the participation of board members.
Ensure that all board members have access to all necessary information even during meetings. Make sure you invest in an electronic document sharing platform that offers user-friendly, secure features and high levels of scalability and compliance with data protection Monitor board miscommunications regulations. Some of the most well-known solutions are Diligent Boards. BoardEffect. Passageways OnBoard. and Aporio.