Boards of directors play a vital role in organizations of all types, including public companies, financial institutions, nonprofit organizations, and professional associations – among others. A strong board offers strategic direction and oversight, which helps the organization stay focused on its goals and mission.
Today’s board directors and administrators have a wide range of responsibilities, but they don’t always have the tools needed to efficiently manage them all. Instead, many boards rely on outdated, labor-intensive processes that hinder productivity and limit their impact.
In today’s world, a modern board portal is essential for board directors and administrators alike. Read on as we explore 5 tools within the OnBoard platform that can boost engagement, streamline board operations, and keep your boardroom moving forward.
1. Approvals
Boards are responsible for consistently making decisions that move their organizations forward. In theory, this seems simple enough. But the reality is often more complex.
Often, directors wait for scheduled meetings to engage in meaningful discussions. When topics are particularly complex, multiple conversations may be needed. This can lead to significant delays in the decision-making process.
The Approvals tool in OnBoard reduces these bottlenecks, enabling boards to make timely, high-impact decisions quickly and efficiently.
Administrators can quickly and easily create an approval action within the OnBoard portal. For example, a credit union board administrator might create an action for directors to review and vote on a commercial loan application. Supporting documents can be attached, recipients selected, and publication timing set – all with a few clicks.
Board directors can then review the action, participate in a discussion, or cast their vote – all within OnBoard. Votes are tallied in real time, and administrators are automatically notified once all votes have been cast. The administrator can download a full summary of the vote for record-keeping purposes.
With OnBoard’s Approvals tool, board directors can review, discuss, and approve decisions anytime, from anywhere. There’s no need to wait for the next board meeting. The tool also creates a clear audit trail for every vote and approval, helping organizations maintain strong compliance and governance practices.
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2. eSignatures
In the world of governance, obtaining signatures on key documents is a routine task. For example, the commercial loan application mentioned earlier may require formal sign-off from specific board members – like those who sit on the loan approval committee.
The process of collecting board signatures can be cumbersome and costly. Administrators may need to print and mail documents, which board directors must then sign and return. Alternatively, board directors may need to use an additional tool like Docusign, which adds unnecessary steps and complexity to the workflow.
Fortunately, OnBoard has a built-in eSignatures tool, which works hand-in-hand with the aforementioned Approvals feature
Board administrators can easily upload documents, add signature blocks, and indicate who has the authority to view and sign documents. Directors receive notifications when their signature is needed. They can review and sign documents – either with a fresh signature or a saved one – anytime, from anywhere. Throughout the process, administrators have full visibility into signature status and can download the completed document once all signatures have been obtained.
3. Surveys
Surveys can be a great way to collect feedback or opinions from board directors. But often, directors must use a dedicated tool to provide this feedback. For example, an administrator may use Doodle to poll directors on their availability for an upcoming meeting. With more tools comes more complexity.
Today, OnBoard has a survey feature built into the portal that makes it easier to capture board input. Administrators simply open OnBoard and create a new survey. There are a variety of question formats to choose from, and administrators can also attach supporting documents. Then, administrators specify who should receive the survey.
For example, an administrator may create a survey to capture directors’ preferences for the next board meeting. Board directors can complete the survey in OnBoard, and administrators can use this feedback to determine the date, time, and location of the next meeting.
4. Board Assessments
Every board aims to be as effective as possible. Board assessments are an important tool for continually measuring and enhancing board performance for maximum impact.
OnBoard offers a Board Assessment tool right within the platform. That means board directors can participate in assessments right alongside their other board work.
With OnBoard, administrators can create a board assessment by using a customizable template or building one from scratch. Administrators can add supporting documents, set due dates, and assign participants by individual or group. Responses are collected anonymously – if desired – which encourages honest, constructive feedback and actionable insights.
Directors can conveniently complete board assessments within the OnBoard platform, either in one sitting or by saving their progress and returning later. Administrators have real-time visibility into participation. They can also easily export results, which makes it easier to turn feedback into impactful action.
5. Director and Officer (D&O) Questionnaires
In many industries, organizations are required to collect director and officer (D&O) questionnaires on an annual basis. This process can be tedious for administrators and directors alike, especially when dealing with lengthy questionnaires.
OnBoard simplifies the process with its Director and Officer questionnaire feature, which reduces administrative burden and ensures compliance.
Administrators can easily build D&O questionnaires by choosing from a wide range of question formats. They can also duplicate and pre-fill answers from the prior year’s D&O form to save time.
Directors receive alerts when a new D&O questionnaire is ready, and automated reminders ensure timely completion. All completed questionnaires are securely stored in a central location so they can easily be referenced when (and if) necessary. Administrators can also generate reports from responses, providing valuable insights that can help inform board strategy and decisions.
Do You Have the Right Tools for Board Success?
Today’s board directors hold myriad responsibilities. They need the right tools to lead effectively, make timely decisions, and maintain compliance.
OnBoard’s integrated board management platform empowers administrators and directors alike. It features robust tools that streamline processes and centralize board activity. That way, directors and administrators can spend less time on clunky processes and more time driving impact for the organizations they serve.
Ready to see how OnBoard’s suite of tools streamline governance and maximize board efficiency and impact? Check out a self-guided demo today.
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Ready to upgrade your board’s effectiveness with OnBoard the board intelligence platform? Schedule a demo or request a free trial.
About The Author
- Adam Wire is a Content Marketing Manager at OnBoard who joined the company in 2021. A Ball State University graduate, Adam worked in various content marketing roles at Angi, USA Football, and Adult & Child Health following a 12-year career in newspapers. His favorite part of the job is problem-solving and helping teammates achieve their goals. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and two dogs. He’s an avid sports fan and foodie who also enjoys lawn and yard work and running.
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