The board room for the future will need to be a place that is designed to improve the health and well-being of the participants. It will also be a place that encourages the use of digital technologies to facilitate a more efficient and effective meeting.
Meeting room furniture, for example, will need to be able to accommodate several participants to attend the same conference without compromising privacy or efficiency. The space should have the latest acoustic equipment and high-quality sound design to ensure that both in-person as well as virtual attendees are clearly heard. Natural light is needed to ease eye strain during meetings. According to an Harvard Business Review survey, natural lighting is the most sought-after office perk. It beats out other more traditional and predictable options like cafeterias and fitness centers.
Other technological advancements could be beneficial in the boardroom, including real-time analytics and “living” management infographics which take the idea of dashboards and information graphics one step further as well as crowdsourcing technology that can give a fresh perspective from people who are involved. These tools can help boards better evaluate risks and provide stronger foundations for decision-making.
In the near future, the boardroom will also need to include more sustainability experts. This includes having board members with knowledge about the impacts of business activities on the www.boardroomchallenge.com environment including climate, biodiversity, and human rights. It will also require new skills, like the ability of assessing the impact of ESG on the long-term financial results.