Now more than ever, diversity and accessibility are the key to productive Board meetings. You want to get the most from your employees, and they want the most from you. Inclusive software is at the very centre of this relationship.
A diverse Board is a great starting point for collaboration as it creates a more dynamic, productive workforce. However, diversity doesn’t happen overnight. You also have to make sure everyone feels confident and supported in their role at the company. The benefit of a diverse team is the range of perspectives they bring, so they need to feel comfortable speaking their minds.
To achieve the best collaboration, your meetings must be accessible as well as diverse. This means the whole team should be able to take part in the conversation. One way to achieve this is through software that is designed for everyone. Even the least ‘tech-savvy’ people in your business should feel at home with the system you use.
Accessibility encompasses provisions for people with disabilities as well as smart features to simplify meetings. Let’s break down some key ways that accessible software can help your team:
Empowers Your Employees:
Perhaps most importantly, accessible software is good for your employees. It places everyone on the same footing, so the whole team can contribute, regardless of their background. One of the great things about diversity and inclusion is how it generates fresh ideas. This is no good if you have to spend all your meeting time catching people up on the basics.
People with disabilities face numerous challenges in their day-to-day lives. They shouldn’t simply be expected to ‘cope’. It is your responsibility as an employer to provide adequate resources for success and equality Technology gives you the opportunity to simplify the work your team has to do.
With accessible software, every single one of your employees will feel empowered to contribute in meetings. They can be confident with the material and content. When everyone is inspired, the true diversity of your Board can shine, and the best ideas can rise to the top.
Saves Time and Energy:
No one wants to spend hours going over the same points. Inaccessible software weighs down your Board and wastes precious meeting time. Your employees are busy and don’t have time to struggle with technical issues.
New software should be effective, without distracting ‘extras’ that only make work more difficult. Additional features can be incredibly useful but they should support your meeting process and not get in the way. Technology is supposed to make life easier! Anything you invest in should have accessibility built into its core, not tacked on at the end.
Software is often designed by people who spend all day with technology. Even if they have the right expertise, they might not think about its application in the real world. Your Board Members have lots of different things to take into account. They can’t spend all their time learning how to activate flashy functions.
With an efficient system and clear functionality, you can spend time on the important things.
Encourages Collaborative Thinking:
Your Board Members should feel like they are part of one seamless unit, not competing factions. An accessible system can create a more dynamic environment where ideas flow readily. With a positive company culture, your employees will contribute their best work and leave the meeting excited to return.
Over the past year, we’ve seen the advantages of using a virtual boardroom for remote working. It introduces a level of flexibility and simplifies your internal processes. You are able to bring Board Members together from around the country (or even the world!). Many staff with mobility issues are also supported by the shift away from physical boardrooms.
These advantages can transform the efficiency of your business and streamline communication. However, you can only make the most of them if the software you use is accessible. You want software that brings all the advantages of having your team in one place, with none of the drawbacks.
Supports The Whole Team:
Inclusive software is for more than just people facing long-term access difficulties, it can help everyone on your Board. There’s a broad range of reasons that someone might not get the most from a meeting. Small misunderstandings easily get in the way of communication.
Think about it: have you ever been in a meeting and lost track of where you are on the page? Accessible software can help with this, and many other problems your team might face. Features like voice-to-text, transcripts and intuitive design will support everyone in your business, not just those who need it most.
Transforms The Core Of Your Company:
Board management software is at the centre of your business, and so it should reflect your company values. Don’t underestimate the role technology can play in shaping your mission! Accessible software should be so intuitive that it blends into the background of day-to-day collaboration.
Not everyone is as confident with technology, but everyone should be able to make the most of their meetings. Investing in accessibility can transform the running of your meetings and the mindset of your team. As we move into the future, digital transformation is a necessity for effective business. Make sure you get it right the first time.
These are just a few of the ways accessibility positively impacts the diversity of your team. As you can see, it can help individuals as well as the needs of your business. There is no real drawback to making sure your software suits your team!
How can Convene support your organisation?
Convene’s all-in-one meeting management solution is designed with accessibility in mind. We are leaders on this front, with text-to-voice capabilities and other provisions for the visually impaired. We also offer subtitles on all our training videos and the ability to download a post-meeting transcript for the hard of hearing!
Beyond this, our Board Portal is designed for ease-of-use to help simplify your meeting processes. The intuitive interface is accessible for your entire team, no matter how experienced they are with technology. When everyone is on the same page, you can ensure the best results.
Convene is also available fully integrated with Microsoft Teams, so now your whole company can benefit from Covnene’s wide range of features to streamline meeting processes.
Convene is already trusted by clients in a wide range of industries. If you would like to find out more about our product, please contact us today to book a free trial!
- Connect:
-
