Just because it's vast doesn't mean the boardroom can't be personal and confidential.
When most people think of a boardroom, they picture Donald Trump and “The Apprentice.” They can feel the tension and the importance of the decisions made, but it’s hard to visualize what essentials must go into a successful boardroom. And ever since the Hewlett- Packard boardroom scandal of 2006, the topic of boardroom essentials has solidified into two major components:
- Trust
- Confidentiality
Trust
Members of the board must feel like they are valued and respected. Part of being respected is feeling like you can say what you need to without feeling like it’s going to be repeated in the wrong context- or repeated at all.
Confidentiality
Thus, trust is closely linked to confidentiality. Members of the board must be sure that what is said is guarded inside the boardroom.
How to supply trust and confidentiality
Establishing confidentiality in the boardroom starts with establishing the right context.
- The Chairman of the Board needs to set the mood. It is wise for the Chairman of the Board to model respect and trust while also verbally setting the expected and necessary standard for the rest of the board.
- Members of the board should be instructed to leave their opinions and their statements about a discussion, debate, or hot topic within the confines of the boardroom, unless specifically directed otherwise. Speaking out of turn, especially to the media, often leads to paralyzing set-backs and false accusations.
- It may be beneficial to assign the role of spokesperson to one board member who can be trusted to carefully articulate the consensus of the entire board.
- Sound masking- the use of white noise literally covers sound to render it unintelligible, thereby keeping what is said private. You can achieve “confidential” levels of privacy (as measured by the Privacy Index) through the installation of speakers that emit low-level white noise directly from the ceiling tiles.
Safeguarding Your Boardroom
Boardroom confidentiality hinges on several factors: trust and confidential privacy. It’s crucial to ensure that each member can speak his or her mind freely and confidentially.