Designing trust within the boardroom: 5 steps to constructing trust

Self-confidence means having a practical sense of your abilities and feeling secure in the worth of your contribution based on knowledge and experiences. As you are taking on a brand new role on the board, it’s natural to feel some anxiety about serving as a board director. To make meaningful contributions to the board, it’s obligatory to construct trust.

5 steps to construct trust:

1. Focus on the competencies you could have learned in nursing roles that can translate into effective management work.
2. Prepare ahead of board meetings by highlighting topics on the agenda where you may contribute to the discussion together with your experience, knowledge and unique insights.
3. Keep your comments concise and to the purpose; prepare specific comments before the meeting.
4. TO LISTEN. While you could have initial thoughts to share, remain open to what you hear from other board members which will further shape or change your perspective.
5. Meet together with your board colleagues outside the boardroom to get to know them and understand why they serve.

Remember that you simply were asked to serve for a reason. The boards act as a collegial management body. No member of the management board is required to have all the abilities and competencies required to perform his or her duties. As a board member, it’s important to project confidence in order that your voice is heard, considered and acted upon.