Having served on many boards of directors and reported to high-level decision-makers, I have a unique viewpoint on board communication. I prepared reports and other content for those who voted, and I have also been on the receiving end of information. Giving and receiving valuable and succinctly stated content to the board should always be the objective; however, this objective is not always met.

I know what it’s like to get valuable content—information that is exactly what’s needed for a discussion or decision, useful for asking relevant questions, or helping to fulfill my fiduciary duties. But I can also remember the times as a board member when I was inundated with useless data, voluminous reports, mundane memos, and more.