Transparent and honest communication between board members help create an environment of trust that promotes accountability. This results in an organization’s board that is more connected and active and empowered to make decisions in support of the goals of the organization.

The new board members must be made aware of their duties and expectations from the beginning of their tenure. This includes the importance of donating time, making personal and professional connections to promote the organization’s goals, as well as taking part in fundraising events. A welcome letter will outline communication channels meetings, dates for meetings and other relevant information to aid new directors in settling into the role quickly.

It is essential to tailor communications for board members to meet the individual preferences of each member. For instance, some people prefer to read lengthy reports, whereas others may be better at comprehending visualisations of data. Make sure that reports and other information can be easily digested by abstaining from technical jargon and using simple language. If needed to, use analogies or real world examples to illustrate the implications or data used in reports.

It’s also important to vary the style of board meetings instead of relying on PowerPoint presentations. Mixing up formats can aid in limiting the length of meetings, and also encourage participation and creativity from board members.

Make sure that board members have easy access to all necessary information even during meetings. Invest in a document-sharing platform that is user-friendly and secure with features, high scalability, and adherence to data protection regulations. Some of the most popular solutions include Diligent Boards, BoardEffect, Passageways OnBoard and Aporio.

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