What is the primary role of an executive director?

Best management practices provide us with some general knowledge about the expectations for the person who works in the role of executive director. The list of requirements for an executive director can vary widely because every company has different and specific needs. A one-size-fits-all approach isn't a good idea for company management.

The board and the executive director almost always connect as they work collaboratively in most business activities. Like most working connections, the company only wins when the board and the executive director clearly understand their roles and have a great relationship.

The difference between the roles of executive director and the board

Efficient management requires sharing of responsibility. Sharing responsibility requires all parties to follow a particular job description, and the company defines the duties that they want employees in each role to perform. The general explanation of the distinction between the board and executive director is that the board is mainly responsible for strategic development, risk evaluation, and the organizations mission. The executive director usually focuses on adopting the board's decisions and managing the regular activities of the business.

There is some room for changes and flexibility speaking of business goals. The key to success here is to have clear and detailed descriptions of duties and responsibilities and maintain productive communications between the parties.

Benefits of board management software for an executive director

Being an executive director and organizing the board members can be difficult, but board portal software makes every aspect of the business simpler. The layout and functionality of the best board portals are specifically designed with the Chairman, Executive Director, and other members in mind to ensure effective communication on any level. What are other benefits of virtual board software? Here are only some of them.

• Quick access to essential board information

With advanced software, all parties access the important information necessary to work and make decisions effectively. Security standards guarantee that confidential and financial data is shared only with the right people.

• Better board administration

An online board meeting can be organized in a snap. Instead of collecting, printing, and sending paper copies of materials, all docs are in one place online. Assistants can create, save and share draft meeting books before the meeting and then make changes to prepare a final version. A paperless meeting solution lets stakeholders organize committees, hold meetings, ask for votes, and share work files. Agenda for a meeting in a virtual boardroom can be formulated once and then saved as a template for the future.

• Reducing board management costs

Before meetings, boards usually demand valuable time and funds for printing and shipping board packages. Board software allows sharing information instantly and securely with members, dramatically lowering the overall costs and accelerating the distribution process.

• Increasing board engagement

Close collaboration is no longer limited to the conference hall. Survey tools, votes, and discussion boards encourage members to express their opinion, provide feedback whenever they want, and keep deadlines at the same time.

• Controlling access to information

Board software helps administrators to control who gets access to information. With specific features, it's possible to share some information with everyone but keep other folders private. This allows small committees and teams to work on particular tasks separately from others. If something goes wrong, it's possible to revoke access in a few clicks.

How to select the best board portals for business

The way a board of directors performs their duties sets an example for everyone else in the company. Board software should be selected carefully to help them work effectively. With so many attractive offerings in the digital world, it can be a hard choice. Here are several simple steps to follow:

• access the needs and define the priorities;
• compare the products on the market;
• ask the questions to be sure that the solution fits the business goals;
• use the solution and build a case.

A board portal can lower the time and effort spent on assisting members and the need for IT help. Customer care teams should solve administrative issues related to the product.

Bottom line

While an executive director is one of the essential positions in the company, the board also plays a huge role in business processes. To ensure that the company runs smoothly, sharing responsibility should be prioritized for all parties. But what about communication and management? Board meeting software is a powerful tool for meeting planning, secure file management, and collaborative tasks. To summarize, these solutions allow companies to adopt best management practices fast and at an affordable cost, which is essential in today's competitive environment.