No matter who is the CEO, board chair or another board member, a smooth and effective communication is vital for any business. But when it comes to communications between board members there are a few common mistakes that can cause a lot of frustration, miscommunication and eventually diminished trust.
The most common complaints from board members comprise a lack of information, feeling misled or being surprised and not having their input valued. This can harm relationships and make it difficult for boards of directors to make good decisions.
Communication with board members can be done in many different ways. To make it easier to communicate between board meetings, a portal for board members as well as instant messaging, video conferencing as well as email are great options. This will mean less time to be spent on administrative tasks and more time to be set aside to strategic discussions.
It’s also important to know the preferred method of communication. Some are visual learners, while others prefer to read emails or phone calls. This can help you to customize your approach for various board members, making sure that they receive the most relevant information and that their requirements satisfied.
It’s also important to communicate with the board members in a proactive manner taking note of the urgency of each topic and determining the best timeframe. If a topic is brought up that is not on the agenda of the next board meeting, it might be http://boardroomtalk.org better to postpone the discussion to a later time.