How do you cultivate a culture of trust and transparency among your board members?

I would add that it is important to provide a board member handbook or orientation to new members to ensure they understand their role and the organization’s goals.

It is useful to have the board members and organizational staff co-create guidelines for board participation. Without buy-in from both groups, even the best set of guidelines won't have sustained impact. I would also recommend revisiting these guidelines regularly and emphasizing that they are a part of a living document that the board must actively maintain and hold itself accountable to.

To foster a culture of trust and transparency with a focus on equity among board members, prioritize open communication and involve members in transparent decision-making. Build strong relationships through team activities, clearly define roles to promote accountability, and encourage open feedback for constructive discussions. Support members' growth with training opportunities and lead with ethical behavior to set a standard. These practices collectively enhance collaboration and effectiveness.

Creating multi-modal opportunities for two-way communication with the board is essential. In addition to regular board meetings, where a leadership team usually presents information, consider how you can leverage your board as part of your organizational infrastructure. Perhaps this would entail creating board working groups or sub-committees that meet regularly, independent of the entire board, to address key subject areas. Perhaps this could mean building a culture of collaboration between members of the board and the staff team. It's important the board, especially if it's a working board, knows that it is a part of the organization and participates as such. For that to happen, two-way communication is key.

Healthy relationships between board members give them the confidence to identify situations where board communication breaks down and poor dynamics inhibit the board's success. Board relationships are particularly important when the board is faced with dynamics where there is a material change in circumstances.

Offer ongoing training and professional development opportunities for board members to enhance their skills and understanding of arts administration. Also include topics like governance, fundraising, advocacy, and diversity and inclusion.

Recognition is a powerful tool in building trust. However, it is critical that the recognition is meaningful to the receiver. How to best customize recognition among your team members? Ask them. You will learn and gain insights about what really matters to your employees. Some folks will appreciate recognition amongst peers, others will shrink in embarrassment. In order to wield the power of this free engagement and trust-building tool know that the recognition method needs to be tailored to the individual.

An observation I have is that each and every member has to have their ego in check, ( and most importantly is that of the Chair…most in this position are successful when they are “centric” as in a symmetrical manner towards guiding the board and the enterprise…forgoing the personal ego ) a trait that has been emerging with the next gens. Egocentric attitudes are no longer relevant to modern leaders that have embraced diversity, inclusion, and innovation.

Acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and contributions of board members, and recognize their efforts in supporting the organization’s mission and goals.

Board leaders, such as the president and vice president, should view their positions as opportunities to be role models, motivators, and inspirers. The overall atmosphere and communication style of a board are largely determined by its leaders. Board leaders, including the president and vice president, play a vital role in shaping the culture and communication within the board. As the highest-ranking officials, they have the opportunity and responsibility to set an example for others to follow, motivate their colleagues, and inspire them to achieve common goals. It's crucial for board leaders to embody the qualities they wish to see in the rest of the team to foster an environment of open communication, collaboration, and mutual respect.

Develop and enforce a code of ethics or conduct for board members, emphasizing integrity, honesty, and respect. Establish a clear process for addressing and resolving conflicts among board members.