The boardroom of the future will be a place designed to encourage well-being and health for its members. It will also be a space that encourages the use of digital technology to facilitate a more efficient and effective meetings.
Furniture for meeting rooms, as an example, needs to be flexible enough to allow several participants to attend the same meeting without compromising privacy or efficiency. The space must have an advanced acoustic system as well as high-quality sound design to ensure that in-person and virtual attendees are clearly heard. Natural light is essential to ease eye strain during meetings. According to a recent Harvard Business Review study, access to natural lighting is the number one desired office benefit, far ahead of more traditional and predictable options like cafeterias on site and fitness centers.
Other innovations in technology that could be helpful in the boardroom include real-time analytics, “living” management information using the concepts of infographics and dashboards one step further, and crowdsourcing technology, which can offer an outside view from stakeholders. These tools can help the board assess risks and create a stronger foundation for decision-making.
In addition, the boardroom in the future must incorporate more sustainability-related expertise. This will include having board members with knowledge about the impact of their business activities on the environment the climate, biodiversity, and human rights. It will also require new skills, including being able to assess the impact of ESG on the long-term financial results.
